Legislation Comparison
Select a US bill that has been proposed (not one that has been enacted) using the congressional websites provided in the Learning Resources.
The Assignment: (1- to 2-page Comparison Grid; )
( 1-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement)
Part 1: Legislation Comparison Grid
Based on the health-related bill (proposed, not enacted) you selected, complete the Legislation Comparison Grid Template. Be sure to address the following:
· Determine the legislative intent of the bill you have reviewed.
· Identify the proponents/opponents of the bill.
· Identify the target populations addressed by the bill.
· Where in the process is the bill currently?
· Is it in hearings or committees?
Part 2: Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement
Based on the health-related bill you selected, develop a 1-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement that addresses the following:
· Advocate a position for the bill you selected and write testimony in support of your position.
· Describe how you would address the opponent to your position. Be specific and provide examples.
Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
· Chapter 3, “Government Response: Legislation” (pp. 37–56)
· Chapter 10, “Overview: The Economics and Finance of Health Care” (pp. 180–183 only)
Congress.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2018, from https://www.congress.gov/
Taylor, D., Olshansky, E., Fugate-Woods, N., Johnson-Mallard, V., Safriet, B. J., & Hagan, T. (2017). Corrigendum to position statement: Political interference in sexual and reproductive health research and health professional education. Nursing Outlook, 65(2), 346–350. doi:10.1016/j.outlook.2017.05.003
https://www.senate.gov/
https://www.house.gov/
Legislation Comparison
Health-related Bill Name Autism CARES Act of 2019 (Autism collaboration, accountability, research, education, and support Act of 2019)
Bill Number (H.R. 1058)
Description
The Bill has been presented as a legislative requirement to reauthorize the Autism CARES Act by 30th September 2019. Its legislative history dates back to 2006 when president of the United States George W. Bush signed it into law as Combating Autism Act (P.L. 109-416). The intention of the law was to offer coordinated federal response to the dramatic increase in persons tested with autism spectrum disease in the states. It increased public indulgence to address the growing needs of persons diagnosed with autism disorders, while authorizing the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee to coordinate federal efforts targeted at the disorder. The legislation was reauthorized in 2014 as the Autism CARES Act (P.L. 113-157). It must be reauthorized by September 2019 for the Federal practices conducted under the legislation to continue (Autism Society, 2019).
Federal or State? Federal
Legislative Intent
The Bill was introduces into the House of Representatives as House Bill (H.R. 1058) by Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ). Then later on, Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) introduced the bill into Senate as Senate Bill (S. 427).
Legislative discussions are still ongoing for the Bill with proposals to expand and intensify the current format of the legislation. The intention is to enhance the actions of the National Institutes of Health and the main focus was on Public or general Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284g) to support research on autism spectrum disorders, and reduce care gaps (Autism Society, 2019).
Proponents/ Opponents Proponents:
Chris Smith, Mike Doyle
Opponents:
Target Population The target population is persons tested with autism spectrum complication. The intention is to improve their care quality and outcomes through supporting research activities that improve understanding of the disorder.
In order to improve the undertaking of the National Institutes of Health the Bill was subjected in the 1st session of the 116th Congress and discussions are currently ongoing with focus on amending the Public Health Service law and with the intention of supporting research activities on autism spectrum disorder and enhancing health care programs.
Status of the bill (Is it in hearings or committees?)
It was introduced to the Senate by Mr. Menendez and Mr. Enzi, read twice and referred to the health committee.
The Bill is receiving press coverage with legislators brining public attention to its content and intentions. Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA), Rep. Senator Mike Enzi (R- WY), Chris Smith (R-NJ), and Senator Bob Menendez (D- NJ) made press releases to drum up public support for the Bill. In April 2019, Congressman Smith wrote a letter to support full funding for the Bill. In addition, other organizations that focus on improving autism care are brining attention to the Bill. In May 2019, 35 national organizations wrote a coalition in support of the Bill. An updated letter was written later in the same month to ask for expedited consideration of the Bill (Autism Society, 2019).
General Notes/Comments
The Bill seeks to provide comprehensive attention to the care of persons with autism spectrum disorder. Still, there is a concern that the deadline for reauthorizing the Bill is 30th September 2019 and yet legislative debate is still ongoing to imply that the Bill may not be reauthorized by 30th September.
Should the Bill be reauthorized in its current form, there substantive advances will be realized in the care of persons with autism spectrum disorders. It would improve infrastructure and surveillance, inform on lifespan issues, identify helpful treatments and interventions, identify risk factors, inform on the biology, and determining diagnosis and screening concerns.
Overall, the Bill seeks to make substantive improvements in the care of persons with autism spectrum disorders, and these benefits can only be realized if the Bill is reauthorized before the 30th September deadline (Autism Society, 2019).
Part 2
Authorization of legislation is critical within its current form that is, Autism CARES Act of 2019 because it focuses on improving the government’s involvement of resources towards people with autism. Such, resources would facilitate the needs of the given individuals. Consequently, if the bill is not passed, then there would be a challenge through the efforts of Helping an individual with autism. Besides, the previous actions that that had been made with regards to improving the lives of such individuals would go in vain.
Fighting autism requires joint efforts from different units, both public and private sectors and the legislation of acts ensures implementations that promote the involved concerns (Short, 2017). For instance, the committee that coordinates various programs and schemes regarding autism come from both public and private areas of operation. However, failure to enact the law means that federal units and other agencies from the government would be excluded from their involvement in autism. In turn, this would significantly impact the coordination of the internal programs within the health sectors, specifically those that deal with patients with autism and other related disorders.
Autism is hard to fight, and it takes work from both the public and private sectors. Laws make sure that actions are taken that help the causes involved (Short, 2017). For example, the people on the committee that coordinates different programs and plans about autism come from both the public and private sectors. But if the law isn’t passed, federal units and other government agencies won’t be able to help with autism. In turn, this would have a big effect on how well the health sectors’ internal programs, especially those that help people with autism and other similar disorders, work together.
Therefore, passing the bill would be an appropriate step to take considering the needs of these patients or instead, the individuals with special needs. For example, more advancement would be invocated to support relevant areas like research and treatment technics that would be more effective. Besides, the bill would ensure that there is an increment in the number of personnel to manage and control the disorder among particular patients. However, despite the improvement of the autism management, such an act means that there would be an increased investment or cost on the health sector to cater for all the requirements. Considering this, there would be a need for other amendments regarding the collection of resources from other individual or private sectors. Therefore, this would mean that despite the exclusion of the government’s full participation in financing the industry, there would be a continuity of autism management program.
Reference
Short, N. M. (Ed.). (2017). Health Policy and Politics. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
