Abstract

This paper explores published articles that report on results from research conducted about the successes of the Affordable Care Act and its relationship to the financial health of the healthcare industry. While efforts of the ACA to move healthcare towards financial stability have broad sweeping implications across the healthcare industry it is not clear whether the efforts were enough to stem the rising costs of healthcare in the United States. Ellis and Orszag (2007), theorized that the changes under the ACA to further educate patients on treatments would lead to a reduction in healthcare expenditures. Regulatory changes to the insurance marketplaces and acquisition and usage of healthcare insurance have played a prolific role in changing the face of the healthcare industry. Changes in policy, procedure and staffing have already begun to impact the costs of healthcare in America but flaws still exist in the system that are not directly addressed by the ACA. Cutler (2015) states, “The healthcare industry must make efforts to cut costs as the current situation of cost compared to economic growth is unsustainable” (p. 337). This paper examines the steps already taken by the ACA to achieve balance in healthcare expenditures and to prevent healthcare costs from further spiraling out of control.

Year Manuscript Completed

Spring 2017

Senior Project Advisor

G. Michael Barton, MBA, SPHR

Degree Awarded

Bachelor of Integrated Studies Degree

Field of Study

Health Care Administration

Document Type

Thesis

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