Untitled Flashcards Set

Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Healthcare reform legislation signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010, aimed at increasing access to health insurance and controlling healthcare costs.

Rising healthcare costs

Factors include use of expensive technology, reimbursement systems rewarding service volume, inadequate preventive services, an aging population, increased chronic diseases, and high administrative costs.

Disparities

Wide differences in access or quality of health care based on geographic location, income, educational level, race, ethnicity, gender expression, or sexual orientation.

Medicaid Expansion

Governmental program that expanded health coverage to nearly all adults in states that adopted the ACA, covering incomes at or below 138% of the poverty line.

Uninsured populations post-ACA

Groups more likely to remain uninsured include non-elderly adults with incomes below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, those unable to afford insurance, and minorities living in states that did not expand Medicaid.

Increased healthcare demand

Greater access to healthcare has resulted in increased demand for healthcare providers, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and home-care services.

Infectious agents

Microorganisms that can cause diseases, examples include pneumonia, tuberculosis, diarrhea, and diphtheria.

Sanitation improvements

Cities developed safe food and water systems, health departments grew to apply successful public health measures, and personal hygiene improved, leading to reduced mortality.

Chronic diseases

Conditions that last one year or more and require medical attention, such as heart disease and diabetes, often prevalent among the elderly.

Zoonotic diseases

Diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans, including COVID-19, Ebola, and Avian Influenza.

‘Deaths of despair’

Refers to deaths from drug overdoses, suicide, and chronic liver disease, highlighting complex socioeconomic problems.

Health disparities

Differences in health outcomes often influenced by social determinants and access to healthcare.

Equality vs. Equity

Equality treats everyone the same, while equity provides fair opportunities for health by addressing obstacles.

Health Information Technology (Health IT)

Use of computers to store and manage health data for better healthcare delivery and information exchange.

Human Genome Project

International research project aimed at sequencing and mapping human genes to identify disease risk factors.

AI in medicine

Technology simulating human intelligence to improve diagnoses and patient care.

Advance in medical technology

Improvements leading to better survival rates, less invasive procedures, and new treatments for chronic conditions.

Infant mortality rate

Indicator of maternal health, measuring deaths before the first birthday often revealing disparities among different demographic groups.

Unmet social needs

Factors such as homelessness and food insecurity that influence health outcomes, leading to health disparities.