Affordable Care: Harnessing the Power of Nurses

Abstract

Original Medicare produced an increased index of suspicion regarding health costs in 1965. As services expanded, costs escalated. Policy makers moved to control upward spending trends in an attempt to leverage resources across the population. Changes in reimbursement accompanied by the expansion of levels of care during an episode of illness caused stakeholders to carefully analyze value based opportunities. The groundbreaking Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) compels nurses to continue innovation, transformational leadership, and care coordination as major stakeholders in provision of the next generation of cost containment, quality advances, and patient access improvements. This article discusses the nurse impact on national health cost reduction, value based healthcare reimbursement, and opportunities for nurses to impact healthcare quality. In addition, we consider the nurse impact on healthcare quality and access to care, as well as continued opportunities for nurses to impact access and lead change.