Public Health Administeration. HLT 605 Public Health Reform Rubric.

 
Public Health Reforms
Name
Institutional Affiliation
 Public Health Reforms
Public health is a broad field that deals with the prevention of disease, prolongation of human life as well as the promotion of human health through concerted efforts in the society. Analysis of the population’s health and the health risks facing the population forms the basis of public health. The health of the population includes mental, physical, as well as the social well-being of the people (CDC Foundation, 2017). Public health is increasingly becoming an interdisciplinary field incorporating health economics, environmental health, gender issues, and public policy, among others. Public health is of utmost importance in the society because it helps address health issues that have the potential of affecting individuals and the society as a whole both in the present and for years to come (Mager & Farris, 2016). This paper seeks to look into the current status of the United States’ public health as well as the public health reforms with a focus on the Affordable Care Act, its strengths and weaknesses, as well as ways in which it can be improved. 
Current Status of the United States’ Public Health
The roots of the U.S. public health as we know it today can be traced in the in the 19th century. During this period, public health was largely funded by private philanthropists. Following this period, the federal government took a leading role in funding public health. This led to the growth of the field into what it is today. Towards the end of the 19th century, several medical and nursing schools were churning out many skilled individuals every year (Frumkin, 2016). However, most of them became practicing physicians, only to be called upon in times of epidemics. This led to the idea of creating a new profession whose members would solely be involved in the prevention of disease and promotion of health. The field of the public was born. Various legislations along the way, such as the Social Security Act passed in 1935 further fuelled the development of public health by increasing funding directed towards Public Health Service. More training institutions introduced public health courses, leading to higher numbers of professionals in the field (Rosen, 2015). The field has overcome various challenges, especially underfunding, to become one of the largest public health systems in the world. 
The United States Public Health Service (USPHS) is responsible for public health in the U.S. More than 6,000 officers work in the agency as well as its subsidiaries. The effects of the enormous public health system are evident today. The life expectancy of Americans has risen from around 67 in the 1950s to 78.8 in 2015 (DeSalvo et al., 2017). The prevalence of smoking among teenagers and adults has more than halved, and the percentage of people with insurance coverage has exponentially increased. The various health reforms have played a major role in improving the quality of healthcare and checking the costs of health care. However, regardless of this success, a position whereby every citizen gets an equitable and an optimal level of health has not been achieved. Ethnic and racial disparities...