QUESTION:
Excellent, so how do you see this from the context of our system trying to shift from volume-based to value-based pricing in health care?
The cost-benefit evaluation regarding legislators being reelected influenced efforts to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). A cost-benefit analysis by the legislators showed them a high likelihood of them not being reelected if they implement the new policy. Far-reaching negative elements were associated with replacing the ACA and legislators being replaced. Replacing the ACA would mean many Americans will lack access to affordable healthcare services. The cost-benefit analysis showed how costs were increasing, limiting the chances of citizens getting maximum health coverage. Implementing new policies that do not negatively affect citizens is important (Milstead & Short, 2019). The new policies would make it difficult for most Americans to access healthcare which means the efforts made by Barrack Obama when he implemented the ACA was being overlooked. There was a fault with the new policy after cost-benefit analysis that would affect the reelection of the legislators, and they did not want that. Therefore, the legislators decided not to implement the new policy because it was unfavorable for their reelection.
An analysis of voters’ perceptions can influence decisions by legislative leaders in recommending or positioning national policies. Legislators are elective leaders, which means they must campaign to be elected by voters. Therefore, voters’ perceptions typically influence their decisions on policy matters. Legislative leaders always want to be reelected. Consequently, they have to consider voters’ views to ensure the policies they want to implement. Opposing views can make the legislative leaders not be reelected.
On the other hand, positive views increase a legislative leader’s reelection chances (Dassonneville et al., 2021). Legislative leaders always want to be on the positive side of voters because their primary interest is being reelected. Hence, legislative leaders always try to implement policies that voters perceive as positive to favor their reelection.
References
Dassonneville, R., Blais, A., Sevi, S., & Daoust, J. F. (2021). How citizens want their legislators to vote. Legislative Studies Quarterly, 46(2), 297-321.
Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
