Final answer:
ACA-mandated EMR adoption in healthcare grapples with public concerns over data privacy, individual control, high costs, and administrative complexities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The discussion about the adoption rate and functionality of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) addresses a significant aspect of modern healthcare administration and policy. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandated the switch to EMRs with the aim of reducing administrative costs and streamlining patient data management. Despite the high adoption rates nearing 50 percent, there are concerns about the functional aspects of these systems. Issues with functionality are important because they can affect the efficiency and cost-savings that EMRs are supposed to deliver.
Furthermore, broader public concerns regarding data privacy and control pervade the healthcare domain, with a majority of people feeling they have little control over their data. These concerns relate not only to private company data practices but also to data held by governmental entities. Echoing these sentiments, approximately 62 percent and 63 percent of individuals believe they cannot go through their day without having their data collected by companies and the government, respectively.
Notably, 79 percent were concerned about data use by companies and 64 percent by the government. The ACA's measures to cap administrative costs and encourage efficient healthcare delivery, including the adoption of EMRs, aim to address these challenges, even as debates about healthcare inefficiencies, corruption, and costs continue.