Regulatory Agencies
A government entity, either federal, state, or local, enacts regulations to all its bodies and citizens. The same case applies to the county and municipal arms of government since they are tasked with ensuring the safety of individuals. Safeguarding the wellbeing of the public is the prime in these efforts, particularly the most susceptible members of the public, for instance, individuals that the federal government determines as being unable to defend themselves. The approach of the protection mainly covers the key areas, quality, and payment of services. This paper focuses on the Agency for Health Care Policy (AHCPR). The agency forms part of the Federal Government provisions as a principle player in relation to the care and quality of services for the elders involved.
The agency was initially created in 1999 where the members were allowed to make essential references concerning its effective function in its aging anxiety for the health services being explored. This process was followed by the formation of a taskforce on aging that examined the AHCPR research portfolio. After several months, members of Task Force held several meetings and deliberated with employees in other Federal agencies to assist in establishing a better solution regarding the aging population’s healthcare. Majorly, the agency and the Task Force study program concentrated on the indispensable evidence for the economical participation that would assist in improving the Health-Related Quality Of Life (HRQOL). The agency offers the older adults in the program additional support in preventing disabilities with a purpose of extending their lifespan by decreasing the functional decline. The agency aids in the provision of rationale for the growth, execution, and distribution of the agenda for health services study relating to aging. They also accentuate the need for solidification of the Agency’s organization and resources in its backing of aging exploration.
The rising nations’ older population along with ever-increasing health care costs and rapid changes in health system cause a major challenge in the maintenance of health care to these senior citizens (Ness, 2011). To achieve the aims that the patient health research produces, the AHCPR obtains funding mechanisms in a variety of ways. These include contracts, grants, and agreements with inter-agencies. The recipients are academic institutions, researchers, various states, organizations based in different communities, national organizations, and Federal agencies. Their overall aim of this investment is to promote the above average (or high-quality) care by availing data that is helpful to clinicians and patients, which matches the individuals’ needs and preferences. Additionally, this type of investment has the ability to create a sustainable foundation for the production of future research. This achievement enable the U.S. healthcare system to deliver the highest quality care to Americans.
Another federal agency is known as the Health Care Financing Administration recognized as the HCFA. The agency is in charge of the extensive resources made available by the federal agency overseeing Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Geriatric Resources Assessment and Care of Elders as well as the Affordable Care Act fall under its jurisdiction.
HCFA has the duty of providing health insurance for many Americans, through Medicare, Medicaid, and Child Health. Several Americans also get their benefits through Fee-for-Service delivery system. Nonetheless, because of their increasing insured numbers, many of them choose the managed care plans.
HCFA agency also controls the entire laboratory testing in the United States through Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments Program, otherwise referred to as CLIA program. Their special projects are involved in Compliance for the Year 2000, Fraud and Abuse, Your Medicare Center, and State Health Reform.
Millions of senior citizens use Medicare and Medicaid and have major health issues. Some of them have conditions that would be classified as chronic and have functional limitations along with high yearly healthcare expenses. As these issues are addressed, researchers as well as clinicians call upon the interdisciplinary team to test a new model Geriatric Resources for Assessment and Care of Elders (GRACE). Several initiatives present in the Affordable Care Act aim at further testing and disseminating innovative models like GRACE.
American families have been struggling to meet the double demands of their work and their families’ caregiving (Neal, 2002). Certainly, the demographic trends will help in exacerbating these tendencies, particularly with the senior adult aging population as it has created more responsibilities for families. The current recession has compounded the financial cares within the confines of these federal agencies, as many families have been affected because of lose of employment and reduced life savings funds. According to an article in Generations, this information helps in addressing some of the problem areas that the Affordable Care Act health care reform and the Federal agency governing it struggle to overcome.
Another example is the Regional Transportation Authority that sponsors the neighborhood PACE Buses. They get a traveler to where they are going locally as they have three transfer sections, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus and rail system, METRA commuter rail service, and PACE suburban bus service. Regional Transportation Authority is just about the largest public transportation system in our country, providing daily rides. It covers thousands of route miles as it traverses the several county regions. In 1983, an Act (the RTA Act) was amended with major changes given to its organization, funding, and operations. This Act created their three primary responsibilities known as their service boards. They are the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra rail service for the commuters, and the Pace suburban bus system. RTA’s oversees the financial and budgetary requirements together with their regional transit planning needs. The Board has 15 members and a chairperson and are appointed from across the six-county area. Not only seniors in wheelchairs but also younger people who are afflicted with being disabled regularly and highly utilize this system of transportation. They are equipped with lifts for bringing the person and/or their implement (wheelchair, walker, etc.) up into the vehicle. There is also a bicycle place on the front of the bus for those who can get around but not able to walk well or to far areas.
References
Neal, M. B., & Wagner, D. (2002). Working caregivers: issues, challenges, and opportunities for the aging network. Institute on Aging Publications. Portland State University
Ness, D. L. (2011). Women, Caregivers, Families, and the Affordable Care Act’s Bright Promise of Better Care. Generations, 35(1), 38-44.