To maintain political, governmental, staff, and patient loyalty, the healthcare organization must provide a sense of organizational stability and view of the legislative landscape. The political landscape is the basis for healthcare policy, guidance, state, local, and community support (both fiscal and legal) engaging in political trade-offs to stabilize the healthcare industry (such as in the cost, pharmaceuticals, insurance premiums, and organizational ROI in the healthcare industry). Healthcare organizations must provide the necessary guidance and advocacy for stakeholders in the setting of both state and federal legislature as a voice of reason, authority, and integrity. Provide information on the following:

Research a policy associated with the Affordable Care Act in California or another state that may affect healthcare reform and/or the way health care is provided in the chosen state.
Describe the policy and who wrote and/or promoted the policy legislature (provide statistical data).
What are the trade-offs offered to bring balance to the healthcare stakeholders?
What role have public perception and disinterestedness played in the valuation of healthcare performance?
Describe how process innovation, risk taking, health policy analysis, and governance “sense-making” provide balance for stakeholders.

Sample Solution

Policy: The California Health Benefit Exchange

Who wrote and/or promoted the policy legislature: The California Health Benefit Exchange was created by the California Health Benefit Exchange Act of 2010, which was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown.

Statistical data: The California Health Benefit Exchange is the largest health insurance marketplace in the country, with over 6 million enrolled members. The Exchange has helped to reduce the number of uninsured Californians by over 2 million people.

Trade-offs offered to bring balance to the healthcare stakeholders: The California Health Benefit Exchange has offered a number of trade-offs to bring balance to the healthcare stakeholders. These include:

• Tax credits: The Exchange offers tax credits to help people afford health insurance.
• Medi-Cal expansion: The Exchange has helped to expand Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program, to cover more low-income Californians.
• Small business subsidies: The Exchange offers subsidies to small businesses to help them afford health insurance for their employees.

Role of public perception and disinterestedness played in the valuation of healthcare performance: Public perception of the California Health Benefit Exchange has been mixed. Some people believe that the Exchange has been successful in expanding access to health insurance, while others believe that it has been too expensive and has not done enough to control healthcare costs.

Process innovation, risk taking, health policy analysis, and governance “sense-making” provide balance for stakeholders: Process innovation, risk taking, health policy analysis, and governance “sense-making” all play a role in providing balance for stakeholders in the California Health Benefit Exchange. Process innovation has helped to streamline the enrollment process and make it easier for people to find and purchase health insurance. Risk taking has helped to expand access to health insurance to more Californians, even those with pre-existing conditions. Health policy analysis has helped to ensure that the Exchange is meeting the needs of Californians and that it is being run efficiently. Governance “sense-making” has helped to build trust between the Exchange and its stakeholders.

In conclusion, the California Health Benefit Exchange is a complex policy that has had a significant impact on the healthcare landscape in California. The Exchange has helped to expand access to health insurance to millions of Californians, but it has also been criticized for being too expensive and not doing enough to control healthcare costs. The Exchange will continue to evolve as it strives to balance the needs of its stakeholders.