Health Policy Analysis: Medicare, ACA, and Diabetes Management

This report analyzes the impact of several key US health policies on diabetes management, particularly focusing on elderly patients and those in rural areas. It examines the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, highlighting its role in providing prescription drug benefits and financial relief to diabetic patients, alongside the support given by the drug companies. The report also discusses the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its provision of affordable healthcare insurance, improving access to care for those with lower economic status. Furthermore, it explores the Healthy People 2020 initiative, which aims to educate and support individuals with diabetes, providing crucial information and resources for self-management. The report emphasizes how these policies collectively contribute to better healthcare access and quality of life for diabetic patients across the US, especially in rural communities.

Running head: HEALTH POLICY
HEALTH POLICY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author notes

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Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003
The US government takes special care of the diabetes patients in the country. The number of the
diabetic patients is increasing profoundly in US. The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement
and Modernization Act, 2003 is also known as Medicare Modernization Act or MMA (ncsl.org,
2020). This act caused highest haul in public health program.
The act was targeted to give some relief to the patients, especially, the aged patients who have to
face complexities in prescription drugs. Some of the diabetes medicines are prescription drugs
and the older people of the rural areas find it difficult to buy these high priced drugs. Later after
the act was enacted, the aged diabetic patients were gives relaxation in taxes and the drug
companies also gave subsidiaries under this act. The Affordable Care Act is another part o f the
MMA where the older patients of diabetes can avail medical coverage in minimum amount of
monthly premium.
This policy is currently active and is helping the aged population of the diabetic people in the
urban as well as in the rural areas. Through this policy, the economically backward patents are
also getting diabetes Medicare services at minimum cost.
Healthy People 2020
Healthy people 2020 is an initiative by the government of US to educate patients and
people about the various diseases and make their life quality better by providing required support
and help (healthypeople.gov, 2020). Diabetes is one of the major diseases that this policy
considers as important.

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This program is designed to give a good understanding about the diabetes and its control
measures. The impact of this program is immense in the treatment of old diabetic patients of the
rural areas. Most of the time the challenge remains that people are not aware of the disease or its
treatment measures. By that means, the Healthy People 2020 is the policy that gives all necessary
information of the disease and helps the rural old people to self-manage their conditions to some
extent.
The policy is active in present time as it has just started in 2020. Through this program of
the government, the States wants to give all necessary infrastructure and support to the patients
with diabetes and are in their old age.
The federal Affordable Care Act 2010
This act is the part of the Health Reform in United States which was passed in 2010. The
reforms have been proposed many times but have been accomplished in few instances. The
Patient protection and affordable Care Act is designed for the patients who are facing medical
difficulties and have lower economic status (ncsl.org, 2020).
This act, therefore, is quite important for the diabetes patients of older age. Under this
act, the aged diabetic patients of the rural areas get access to the health insurance in minimum
charges. This has improved their life quality with better and affordable healthcare insurance
policies. The insurance companies are selling low cost small term insurances that have increased
the quality and scope of health care. This act is still active and helping the aged people with
diabetes in rural areas.

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References
healthypeople.gov (2020), Diabetes, retrieved from:
https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/diabetes
ncsl.org (2020), Overview: State Diabetes Laws 2007-2012, Retrieved from:
https://www.ncsl.org/research/health/diabetes-state-enacted-laws-2007-2012.aspx