In the State of California, the healthcare system has experienced many changes over the past decade and continues to evolve in a variety of ways. The importance of these changes cannot be undermined and require significant attention and focus because they impact decision-making and other tools which drive healthcare costs and coverage for residents throughout the state. The Affordable Care Act has had an impact on community-based healthcare operations and the services which are available to residents. It is imperative that in the coming years, the healthcare system in California must continue to evolve and create new opportunities for growth that will have a positive and lasting impact on outcomes for individuals and families.
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Community health services in California vary in many ways and reflect some of the changes taking place throughout these areas which have a direct impact on the affordability of services for local residents. Medi-Cal is California’s name for Medicaid and is available to many low-income residents who qualify, thereby expanding their options to obtain additional services to improve their health (Roby, Jacobs, Watson, Bronshteyn, Graham-Squire, & Keller, 2014). Community health workers have an opportunity to offer increased services to residents and provide them with the resources required to improve their health and obtain services such as preventive screenings (Gracia & Auld, 2016). It is imperative that healthcare employees who work in community health continue to explore their options to gain the trust of residents and provide them with access to care and treatment which might not otherwise be available to them to promote improved health across the population, regardless of cultural needs or preferences (Nies & McEwen, 2015).
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With a larger Hispanic population throughout the state, California has gradually adopted a variety of resources to accommodate this population and to increase their access to care and treatment that supports diversity and is culturally appropriate for their needs (Gracia & Auld, 2016). Nonetheless, there are many concerns associated with obtaining access to culturally sensitive and appropriate care for Hispanics, based upon the challenges of nurse and physician availability for this population who possess the skillset to communicate and share knowledge at this level, along with concerns regarding undocumented immigrants and others who may not have access to care out of fear of their immigration status (Ortega, Rodriguez, & Bustamante, 2015). These are serious issues which impact many Hispanic residents of California and require extensive support and knowledge from the healthcare community to ensure that the needs of these populations are met in a timely manner. In addition, healthcare reforms must continue to provide different resources to residents, including educational opportunities, to ensure that they understand the importance of achieving optimal health for their own benefit and to improve their quality of life.
Conclusion
Healthcare reform in California has been challenging on many levels and demonstrates the importance of developing strategies that will continue to improve access to Medi-Cal and other forms of insurance coverage for residents. At the community-based level, nurses and other healthcare providers have a significant responsibility to be engaged and to explore the different options that are available to them which will have the desired impact on their health and wellbeing. As healthcare reforms continue at the state level, it is important not to leave out any groups of residents, because without active communication and culturally appropriate options, it is possible that some groups could be limited in their access to care at the local level. Providers must make these reforms a reality and ensure that residents can obtain the services that they need without significant delays which could compromise their health over time.
- Gracia, J. N., & Auld, M. E. (2016). Community Health Workers in a Post–Health Reform Era. Health Promotion Practice, 17(3), 328-331.
- Nies, M. A., & McEwen, M. (2015). Community/public health nursing: promoting the health of populations. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
- Ortega, A. N., Rodriguez, H. P., & Vargas Bustamante, A. (2015). Policy dilemmas in Latino health care and implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Annual review of public Health, 36, 525-544.
- Roby, D., Jacobs, K., Watson, G., Bronshteyn, A., Graham-Squire, D., & Keller, M. (2014). Health care reform in the US: an analysis of implementation of the Affordable Care Act in California. BMC Health Services Research, 14(S2), P103.
