Consider why the Clinton Health Reform Plan in the 1990s never passed.
Include the following:
1.How does Obama’s Affordable Care Act of 2010 compare with Clinton Health Reform
Plan?
2.Discuss the pros and cons of the Affordable Care Act.
3.Discuss three changes would you recommend to improve on the legislation?
HEALTH REFORM PLAN PAPER
There are two comparable health reforms which result from the proposals developed by
Obama and Clinton. Hillary reforms were initiated in the early 1990s when President Clinton
proposed that Hillary lead the efforts that could lead to the enactment of major legislation
regarding the health reforms. However, despite the initiation of these efforts they failed
infamously. The sketchy reforms plans contributed to the failure of the Clintons’ reform. The
Obama care, on the other hand, saw the need to reform the federal health law and came up with
an enactment of patient protection and affordable care to its citizens (Rudnicki et al, 2016).
According to Obama, the health reforms developing process would involve complete
transparency and open negotiations which are different to Clinton’s proposals as these factors
were major issues of procedural criticism of his reforms. The Obama care act was consistently
lobbied by the president as compared to Clinton’s reforms. There emerged a difference where a
HEALTH REFORM PLAN PAPER 2
health insurer identified as a scape goat was present during the enactment of the Obama care as
compared to Clinton’s act. The Democratic congressional leaders and major interest groups
benefited the Obama care act leading to its massive success as compared to Clinton’s reforms
which failed.
The Obama care act focused on reconfiguring regulations relating to health insurance
reforms with the objective of fixing the problems in health care (Rudnicki et al, 2016). On the
other hand, Clinton’s care was far more reaching focusing on changing the management,
financing and regulation of care and also called for more involvement of the government in these
reforms. During the development of the Obama care act, the lawmakers were continually pushed
to keep at it against the long odds. On the other hand, Clinton reforms did not emphasize on the
same where the transparency was compromised making which was a factor contributing to
failure since the reforms were seen to be sketched out inappropriately. Obama care act
capitalized on the mistakes made during forming Clinton’s reforms to ensure the regulation and
affordable care act succeeded effectively (Stapletown et al, 2015).
The Affordable care act had its advantages and disadvantaged since the development of
its reforms. The affordable care act has made it possible for more citizens to have health
insurance obtaining coverage and insured. The act has enhanced the affordability of insurance by
eliminating unreasonable rate increases and enhancing lower premiums. A wider coverage of
options is provided to the American citizens. No time limits on care have been made possible
where the coverage issues have been minimized. Through the Obama care act, there is lower
prescription to drug costs making medication easily affordable for all people. More screening is
covered courtesy of Obama care act. There are also cons associated with the Affordable Act
which includes payment of higher premiums in the name of wider coverage and a range of
HEALTH REFORM PLAN PAPER 3
benefits (Stapletown et al, 2015). The possibility of been fined due to failure to possess an
insurance cover as the government argues that it is mandatory for one to have insurance to cover
their healthcare cost. The Affordable Act has resulted in increasing the tax rates, e.g., on the
pharmaceutical sales and medical devices. The affordable care acts have made enrollment be
complicated due to delays and lower number of signups resulting from website problems (Kriner
et al, 2014). Addressing the cons effectively would ensure the problems are converted into pros
and benefits of the act. The first change I would make on the legislation is ensuring sufficient
funds are provided to finance the insurance adequately amending the high costs and affordability
problems. The budgeting and financing would influence the implementation of the reforms to the
letter. Changes in the healthcare field such as having more qualified administrators and
improving the technology used in the implementation of the act are essential. The changes would
address problems such as complications during enrollment and other inefficiencies. Enacting
reforms that control the high premiums and also restricting unnecessary fines on the uninsured
rather than having measures to have them covered is a crucial change in the legislation (Kriner et
al, 2014).In a nutshell, the adherence and implementation of the right reforms would enhance full
coverage of all people.
HEALTH REFORM PLAN PAPER 4
References
Kriner, D. L., & Reeves, A. (2014). Responsive Partisanship: Public Support for the Clinton and
Obama Health Care Plans. Journal Of Health Politics, Policy & Law, 39(4), 717-749.
Rudnicki, M., Armstrong, J., Clark, C., Marcus, S., Sacks, L., Moser, A., & … Public Policy and
Advocacy Committee of the, S. (2016). Expected and Unexpected Consequences of the
Affordable Care Act: The Impact on Patients and Surgeons-Pro and Con Arguments.
Journal Of Gastrointestinal Surgery, 20(2), 351-360.
Stapletonw, P., & Skinner, D. (2015). The Affordable Care Act and assisted reproductive
technology use. Politics & The Life Sciences, 34(2), 71-90. d