Executive Solution Overview
Social determinants of health are defined as indicators unrelated to medical care that play an important role in the physical and emotional state of individuals. These indicators include economic stability, education, accessibility to medical care, and the environment, among others. These determinan…
Assignment Prompt & Instructions
Social determinants of health are defined as indicators unrelated to medical care that play an important role in the physical and emotional state of individuals. These indicators include economic stability, education, accessibility to medical care, and the environment, among others. These determinants contribute significantly to health disparities because they accentuate inequalities between population groups in access to basic well-being resources.
One of the most important policies to reduce disparities in public health is Medicaid Expansion.
Medicaid Expansion under the Affordable Care Act represents an important health policy that considers social determinants in the U.S. by expanding the reach of medical care for low-income adult populations. This policy directly boosts indicators such as accessibility to health services, economic well-being, and health indicators, especially among populations living in marginalized areas.
Impact on Social Determinants of Health
Medicaid expansion has a significant impact on various social determinants of health, such as income: When self-paid medical expenses are reduced or eliminated, the economic security of low-income families is strengthened. Another example is accessibility to health services: There is increased access to primary and preventive care, as well as monitoring chronic conditions. States that implemented Medicaid expansion saw a substantial decrease in the number of uninsured patients. Kaiser Family Foundation (2023). Child and maternal health were also positively impacted by expanded coverage during pregnancy and the postpartum period, contributing to the decrease in maternal death rates, especially among Indigenous and African American women (KFF, 2023).
Limitations and Strengths
Among the positive outcomes achieved by the implementation of Medicaid Expansion are increased accessibility to medical services, decreased mortality rates, and a reduction in racial disparities in health care. Recent research has concluded that states that implemented Medicaid Expansion reported significant decreases in hospitalization rates and improvements in mental health services (Bailey et al., 2022). Despite the advantages, there are limitations due to the lack of implementation by some states, such as those in the south of the country, as well as structural factors such as racism or a shortage of providers in rural areas that continue to limit the capabilities and benefits of this policy.
Role of Advanced Practice Nurses
Professional nursing personnel play a vital role in the development and promotion of policies that implement the Social Determinants of Health. Advanced practice nurses have the privilege of maintaining direct contact, in their daily practice, with vulnerable population groups, allowing them to identify and document the unmet social needs of these populations. They also stand out as leaders in the implementation of health initiatives that benefit the community through active participation in the implementation of health policies, providing reliable data based on clinical evidence, and thus influencing legislative decision-making. In conclusion, the implementation of Medicaid Expansion is an indispensable tool for reducing inequalities in health care by improving accessibility for disadvantaged population groups. However, it is important to emphasize that, to achieve maximum effectiveness, it must be adopted nationwide.