Cost, Quality, and Access Concerns of the Children's Health Insurance Program and Children's Healthcare in the United States
College
College of Business Administration
Department
Management & Marketing
Abstract
In recent times, passage of healthcare legislation such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has raised questions about the costs, access, and quality of healthcare within the United States. One group of individuals that has been historically underrepresented in discussions of healthcare legislation is children. In 1997, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) legislation was passed in order to positively influence the health status of children in the United States. Since CHIP’s initial implementation in 1997, it has significantly influenced the costs of children’s healthcare, access to children’s healthcare, and quality of children’s healthcare. This thesis provides a comprehensive look at the CHIP program and how it has influenced healthcare for children in the United States. Also included is a discussion about how the flexibility in CHIP program implementation in different states has caused varied outcomes among children who are eligible for or who are actively enrolled in the CHIP program. This thesis also explores how various changes to the United States healthcare system over time, such as the introduction of the Affordable Care Act and the implementation of various CHIP reauthorization acts have influenced enforcement of CHIP legislation. Finally, after conducting a thorough analysis of CHIP legislation, predictions and recommendations about CHIP’s future influence on the United States healthcare system are discussed and evaluated in terms of the costs, quality, and access to children’s healthcare.
Honors Thesis Committee
Keith Benson; Ph.D.; Michael Matthews; Ph.D.; and Louis Pantuosco; Ph.D.
Start Date
20-4-2018 3:00 PM
Cost, Quality, and Access Concerns of the Children's Health Insurance Program and Children's Healthcare in the United States
West 214
In recent times, passage of healthcare legislation such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has raised questions about the costs, access, and quality of healthcare within the United States. One group of individuals that has been historically underrepresented in discussions of healthcare legislation is children. In 1997, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) legislation was passed in order to positively influence the health status of children in the United States. Since CHIP’s initial implementation in 1997, it has significantly influenced the costs of children’s healthcare, access to children’s healthcare, and quality of children’s healthcare. This thesis provides a comprehensive look at the CHIP program and how it has influenced healthcare for children in the United States. Also included is a discussion about how the flexibility in CHIP program implementation in different states has caused varied outcomes among children who are eligible for or who are actively enrolled in the CHIP program. This thesis also explores how various changes to the United States healthcare system over time, such as the introduction of the Affordable Care Act and the implementation of various CHIP reauthorization acts have influenced enforcement of CHIP legislation. Finally, after conducting a thorough analysis of CHIP legislation, predictions and recommendations about CHIP’s future influence on the United States healthcare system are discussed and evaluated in terms of the costs, quality, and access to children’s healthcare.
