DEFM410_Week8_paper_CH
Introduction
According to Biggs and Helms (2015), there are four different types of evaluations, the
process, cost-benefit, outcome, and impact. Each of these evaluation layers help to determine
the effectiveness of a program or policy. For this assignment, the social program chosen is the
Affordable Care Act (ACA) 2010. It stands as the biggest and most impactful social program of
the last decade in American society.
This essay will provide a cost-benefit analysis (evaluation) to determine the effectiveness
of the program. According to Biggs and Helms (2015), the cost-benefits evaluation is developed
to compare “a program’s outputs or outcomes with the costs (resources expended) to produce
them.” The aim here is to assess the cost of meeting the program’s objectives against the realized
benefits. According to research, by 2011, an estimated 48.6 million Americans, representing
16% of the total population had not been insured. The number was even higher before the
passing of the ACA in 2010, the uninsured population stood at 16.3% of the total population
(Yesilbas & Ustun, 2015). The passage of the ACA also saw an increase in the proportion of
Americans with health insurance from 256.6 million in 2010 to 260.2 million in 2011 (Yesilbas
& Ustun, 2015). The ACA is a feasible and cost-effective social program as its benefits
overwhelmingly outweigh the costs.
Purpose
, Research shows that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010
was developed with three primary objectives. The first was to improve the private insurance
market for the small-groups and individuals, extend Medicaid coverage to the millions of
marginalized and low-income earners, and alter the format for making medical decisions
(Silvers, 2013).
Overall, the aim was to bring the private insurance market under control and ensure that the
people are not exploited. The ACA of 2010 operates based on the expectations of rational and
transparent decision-making based on its incentives.
Data Collection, Analysis, and Interpretation
The ACA was developed to expand access to health insurance to the marginalized.
Racial minorities represent less than half of the country’s population and yet they comprise
more than half of the uninsured. The diversity witnessed in the country means that there are
multiple demographics that must be studied and understood for the development of
comprehensive social programs. The ACA emphasizes the benefits of collecting, processing,
and using health data to enhance the outcomes of the population. The ACA requires that the
demographic data (sex, ethnicity, race, disability status, and primary language) is properly
documented. The ACA insists on the collection of demographic data because it is integral to
understanding the health disparities within the population. The findings if the analysis help to
characterize the nature of the health challenges that are most prevalent among the underserved
(Dorsey et al., 2014). The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is the primary entity used
to develop the standards of the data collected. For example, the OMB is mandated with setting
the standards for how population surveys collecting personal-level data are to be conducted.
Program Structure
Introduction
According to Biggs and Helms (2015), there are four different types of evaluations, the
process, cost-benefit, outcome, and impact. Each of these evaluation layers help to determine
the effectiveness of a program or policy. For this assignment, the social program chosen is the
Affordable Care Act (ACA) 2010. It stands as the biggest and most impactful social program of
the last decade in American society.
This essay will provide a cost-benefit analysis (evaluation) to determine the effectiveness
of the program. According to Biggs and Helms (2015), the cost-benefits evaluation is developed
to compare “a program’s outputs or outcomes with the costs (resources expended) to produce
them.” The aim here is to assess the cost of meeting the program’s objectives against the realized
benefits. According to research, by 2011, an estimated 48.6 million Americans, representing
16% of the total population had not been insured. The number was even higher before the
passing of the ACA in 2010, the uninsured population stood at 16.3% of the total population
(Yesilbas & Ustun, 2015). The passage of the ACA also saw an increase in the proportion of
Americans with health insurance from 256.6 million in 2010 to 260.2 million in 2011 (Yesilbas
& Ustun, 2015). The ACA is a feasible and cost-effective social program as its benefits
overwhelmingly outweigh the costs.
Purpose
, Research shows that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010
was developed with three primary objectives. The first was to improve the private insurance
market for the small-groups and individuals, extend Medicaid coverage to the millions of
marginalized and low-income earners, and alter the format for making medical decisions
(Silvers, 2013).
Overall, the aim was to bring the private insurance market under control and ensure that the
people are not exploited. The ACA of 2010 operates based on the expectations of rational and
transparent decision-making based on its incentives.
Data Collection, Analysis, and Interpretation
The ACA was developed to expand access to health insurance to the marginalized.
Racial minorities represent less than half of the country’s population and yet they comprise
more than half of the uninsured. The diversity witnessed in the country means that there are
multiple demographics that must be studied and understood for the development of
comprehensive social programs. The ACA emphasizes the benefits of collecting, processing,
and using health data to enhance the outcomes of the population. The ACA requires that the
demographic data (sex, ethnicity, race, disability status, and primary language) is properly
documented. The ACA insists on the collection of demographic data because it is integral to
understanding the health disparities within the population. The findings if the analysis help to
characterize the nature of the health challenges that are most prevalent among the underserved
(Dorsey et al., 2014). The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is the primary entity used
to develop the standards of the data collected. For example, the OMB is mandated with setting
the standards for how population surveys collecting personal-level data are to be conducted.
Program Structure
