Measuring the Impact of Health Care Reform: A Short-Term Solution for a Long-Term Problem

As the premier public health agency in the world, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention have a number of distinct systems that track critical public health data. Primarily these surveillance systems are tracking disease-incidence prevalence health behaviors and are within both the purview and core mission of the agency. The subsequent measureable success of health reform will be determined not only by a noticeable decrease in disease-incidence prevalence, but among other indicators not tracked at the agency. CDC serves as only a “part of the whole” when monitoring and evaluating the impact of health reform in the U.S. and must collaborate with other agencies to paint a holistic picture as to the actual impact of health reform.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a landmark piece of legislation with far-reaching implications if fully implemented. Some of these implications have been identified, and others remain to be seen. Pending the decision by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) maintaining that the individual mandate is constitutionally sound and within Congressional powers, the subsequent monitoring and evaluation of health reform impacts will become of paramount importance for the current administration. However, monitoring and evaluation of the impact of health reform cannot stay on the proverbial back burner, but should be in the forefront of public health researchers minds. This is an issue that must be dealt with in advance of the decision by SCOTUS in a thoughtful and meaningful way.

My presentation will highlight possible data sources and evaluation frameworks that could be leveraged to provide a short-term solution to what is agreed upon by most as a long-term problem.