Assignment
Part A
Research and select an emerging health care issue. This can include but is not limited to the following:
a. Opioid crisis
b. Shortages of healthcare professionals
c. Medicare or Social Security funding shortfalls
d. Cost of healthcare
e. A specific disparity in a population group
f. Growing rates of chronic health conditions
g. Cybersecurity issues
h. Healthcare resources for our aging population
i. Suicide rates in children and teens
Using the information, you've learned in the course; discuss how you would design a policy for the health care issue you selected. Remember to take into consideration the various aspects of the policy development cycle and level of implementation (federal, state, or local).
Respond: use 100-200 words to respond to each of the following prompts:
a. Why is this issue important?
b. List one possible policy action (or possible solution) that could help address this issue. Make sure your solution is specific. "Take steps to lower healthcare cost" is not specific. "Mandate pricing transparency for all hospitals" is specific.
c. Include two possible advantages and two possible disadvantages of the policy action.
d. What level of government (federal or state, or possibly local) would primarily be responsible for implementation? Which agency or agencies would likely help implement?
e. How would you propose the policy be evaluated?
Part B
As a Learning Team, create an 8 to 10 slide Microsoft PowerPoint presentation with detailed speaker notes on the topic you selected as a team. This presentation will require a deeper examination of your chosen topic as it is an emerging issue/trend in today's health care industry. Your presentation should:
a. Identify and describe the topic of consideration. (MEDICARE)
b. Identify and discuss the emerging issues and trends surrounding the policy.
c. Describe areas of opportunity involved with this policy.
d. Describe challenges that were faced while implementing the policy.
e. Describe issues that may arise as health care reform continues to evolve.
Part C
Write a 175 to 265 words response to the following questions:
Longest (2016) discusses the importance of policy competence among healthcare professionals.
a. What is policy competence?
b. What areas of healthcare policy are you most concerned about or interested in?
c. Given what you have learned about the policy process, in what way do you see yourself influencing policy?
Respond to classmates. 50 word minimum, 75max
I) Policy competence is constructed on knowledge and understanding of government policies and how they promote efficiencies and its outcomes (PubMed.gov, 2021). In addition, these policies affect the health services and health organizations. In health care, policy competence is imperative as it gives a guide on how to offer quality and improved services in the clinical settings as well as caring for the health care worker's needs. Moreover, it helps drive the healthcare facilities towards success in accomplishing their mission and vision for healthcare.
The area of healthcare policy that I find interest in is the health care policy agenda setting area. In the policy agenda setting area, it allows me to address my concerns in the health care industry. It also permits me to speak on the issues that I feel should be adjusted in order to bring change to the health care facilities as well as healthcare services.
After learning the policy process, I see myself influencing the policy process by advocating for the public health policy development after learning the specific needs of the community I serve in order to ensure that the population is able to get quality care with the required resources in place.
II) Policy competence is understanding healthcare policy enough to make adequate changes that are needed to improve healthcare. The specific areas that need improvement include public health policy and personal healthcare policy. Public health policy includes mandates for tobacco control, alcohol control, and vaccines which are all important. I don't agree with tobacco having an age to control smoking and reduce the risk of disease since it is ineffective. I believe tobacco has caused enough issues with the public health and added to the mortality rate. It should be banned from the United States to help improve public health by preventing cancer from tobacco products. Alcohol has an age minimum to control abuse and ensure individuals are mature enough to handle the effects. I believe this age requirement should be increased to prevent mortality from car accidents because the level of maturity has changed over the years. Personal healthcare policy needs improvement because all individuals in the United States should be able to afford coverage without so much out of pocket expenses. We already must pay for the policy, so why should we have to pay a certain out of pocket expense before the insurance policy pays one hundred percent. I see myself influencing policy by working in the public health field, identifying a problem, developing a solution, and passing this information to management. This way they can review it for a possible policy implementation and design.
Format your assignment according to the give formatting requirements:
a. The answer must be double spaced, typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
b. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the course title, the student's name, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
c. Also include a reference page. The references and Citations should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.