The Indian Health Insurance (IHS) program is one of the top-six population health programs in the United States. This paper will closely analyze the evaluation of the IHS program, focusing on the outcomes of the program, and the methods used in its evaluation. The paper will also consider the advantages and unintended limitations of the program, in addition to how successful it was in meeting the intended objectives. The potential role of the nurse advocate in the program evaluation will also be highlighted.
Analyzing the IHS Program Evaluation
Through the IHS program, the US government wanted to ensure that Indians could have the same healthcare access and financial protection as all Americans. Objectives were emphasized as the possibilities of increased health usage, decreased payment expenditures, and better health outcomes, along with closing the health disparity gap among the Indian population (Indian Health Service, 2023). Some of the indicators used in measuring the program’s success include increased amount healthcare utilization for enrolled people; health disparities reduction for both Indians and the rest of the citizens; and key health indicators such as rates of mortality, prevalence of diseases, and life expectancy. Moreover, from the annual findings of the evaluation, the Indian Health Services Program reached approximately 2.6 million American Indians and Alaska Natives (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2024).
The IHS program evaluation relied on data sourced from claim data of healthcare utilization from the data of participating medical facilities, and an analysis of questionnaire results conducted among involved people regarding satisfaction level, healthcare-taking behavior, and insurance against preventable financial risks (Liu et al., 2018). Accordingly, based on the results of the evaluation, a possible added advantage of the program is better health outcomes and financial protection to enrollees over time, translating into increased productivity subsequently resulting in economic growth. On the other hand, an unintended consequence is that a misuse of professional healthcare by some individuals can cause underutilization of the healthcare system (Aliva et al., 2022). The policy evaluation process entailed government agencies, healthcare providers, insurance firms, and stakeholders’ organizations who played an important role.
The IHS program achieved to fulfilled most of its objectives, including health system utilization which increased, as well as the decrease of individuals’ out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures. As such, I advise that the program should continue and possibly expand while monitoring it on an ongoing basis to address challenges. As Ten Ham-Baloyi (2022) espouses, as a nurse advocate, I would be useful in providing patient-centered care and monitoring progress toward clinical objectives. I would equally act as an ally to the healthcare team, teaching patients self-management tools, and providing social support.
Conclusion
Indian Health Insurance’s (IHS) performance shows that it has made a difference in the lives of Indian American and Native Alaskan people as its results are evident through better healthcare access and financial protection. From its evaluation, the program has displayed some strengths that can be further explored and areas with potential drawbacks that need attention. An advocacy nurse being a part of the quality assurance process can however be critical in the general health system of the community being cared for.
References
Aliva, S., Archita, S., & Snehal, S. (2022). Analyzing the Indian Healthcare Insurance Market. https://jgu.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/jslh/Infosphere+Vol+I+Issue+XI.pdf
Indian Health Service. (2023). Indian Health Service announces allocation decision for 702-6 million in bipartisan infrastructure law funding. https://www.ihs.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/2023-press-releases/indian-health-service-announces-allocation-decisions-for-702-6-million-in-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-funding/
Liu, H., Zeng, H., Shen, Y., Zhang, F., Sharma, M., Lai, W., & Zhao, Y. (2018). Assessment tools for health literacy among the general population: a systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(8), 1711. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15081711
Ten Ham-Baloyi, W. (2022). Nurses’ roles in changing practice through implementing best practices: A systematic review. Health SA Gesondheid, 27. https://doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v27i0.1776
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2024). American Indian/Alaska Native health. Office of Minority Health. https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/american-indianalaska-native-health
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