Which legislative act significantly impacted healthcare quality and access?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the legislative act that significantly impacted healthcare quality and access. Enacted in 2010, the ACA was designed to reduce the number of uninsured individuals and improve access to healthcare services. It introduced numerous provisions aimed at expanding coverage, such as the establishment of health insurance marketplaces, the expansion of Medicaid eligibility in participating states, and the imposition of mandates for individuals to have health insurance.

Additionally, the ACA included measures to improve healthcare quality and reduce costs. It emphasized preventive care, required insurance plans to cover essential health benefits, and implemented strategies to hold providers accountable for the quality of care delivered. The legislation sought to incentivize value-based care, aiming for better patient outcomes and greater efficiency within the healthcare system. These initiatives collectively transformed access to healthcare for millions of Americans and significantly altered the dynamics of healthcare quality assurance.

In contrast, the other legislative acts mentioned do not focus primarily on healthcare access and quality. While the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act does pertain to health information technology and can impact care quality indirectly, it does not directly address access for consumers like the ACA does. The Budget Control Act mainly focused on federal spending and deficit reduction, and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act centered on tax reform