Final answer:
Hospitals must enhance patient care coordination to adapt to the changes introduced by the ACA, such as the establishment of health insurance exchanges and the expansion of Medicaid. This involves improving operational efficiencies like implementing EMRs to reduce costs and focusing on patient-centered care.
Step-by-step explanation:
With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the establishment of Health Insurance Marketplaces, and the expansion of Medicaid in certain states, hospitals find it increasingly important to enhance patient care coordination. The ACA, also known as Obamacare, was a significant overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system with goals like providing access to affordable health insurance, requiring everyone to acquire insurance, and lowering healthcare costs. To adapt to the ACA’s demands, hospitals have focused on improving efficiency, such as by implementing electronic medical records (EMRs) to reduce administrative costs and improving care coordination to manage the influx of patients under expanded coverage.
The health insurance exchanges were created to increase competition and reduce policy prices. Additionally, efforts in community outreach and education have become crucial for hospitals to manage the population's health needs and navigate the complexities of new healthcare regulations. Optimization of billing and coding practices is necessary to ensure proper compensation and compliance with the ACA's provisions on administrative spending. Overall, these adaptations underscore the need for hospitals to streamline their operations and emphasize patient-centered care in the evolving healthcare landscape.