Assignment: Agenda Comparison Grid and Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief
It may seem to you that healthcare has been a national topic of debate among political leaders for as long as you can remember.
Healthcare has been a policy item and a topic of debate not only in recent times but as far back as the administration of the second U.S. president, John Adams. In 1798, Adams signed legislation requiring that 20 cents per month of a sailor’s paycheck be set aside for covering their medical bills. This represented the first major piece of U.S. healthcare legislation, and the topic of healthcare has been woven into presidential agendas and political debate ever since.
As a healthcare professional, you may be called upon to provide expertise, guidance and/or opinions on healthcare matters as they are debated for inclusion into new policy. You may also be involved in planning new organizational policy and responses to changes in legislation. For all of these reasons you should be prepared to speak to national healthcare issues making the news.
As a healthcare professional, it is crucial to be informed and engaged in the ongoing healthcare policy debates and to be able to communicate effectively with policymakers. Being prepared to speak to national healthcare issues making the news is important, as you may be called upon to provide expertise, guidance and/or opinions on healthcare matters as they are debated for inclusion into new policy. Additionally, you may be involved in planning new organizational policy and responses to changes in legislation, thus understanding the priorities and approaches of different presidential administrations is vital to make informed decisions and advocate for the best interest of your patients and community.
In this Assignment, you will analyze recent presidential healthcare agendas. You also will prepare a fact sheet to communicate the importance of a healthcare issue and the impact on this issue of recent or proposed policy.
To Prepare:
Review the agenda priorities of the current/sitting U.S. president and the two previous presidential administrations.
Select an issue related to healthcare that was addressed by each of the last three U.S. presidential administrations.
Reflect on the focus of their respective agendas, including the allocation of financial resources for addressing the healthcare issue you selected.
Consider how you would communicate the importance of a healthcare issue to a legislator/policymaker or a member of their staff for inclusion on an agenda.
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Writing Guide:
As a healthcare professional, it is important to be informed and engaged in the ongoing healthcare policy debates and to be able to communicate effectively with policymakers. One healthcare issue that has been addressed by recent U.S. presidential administrations is access to affordable healthcare.
The population health concern of access to affordable healthcare is affected by factors such as income, employment status, and health insurance coverage. The administrative agenda focus related to this issue has varied among the current/sitting U.S. president and the two previous presidential administrations.
For example, the current/sitting U.S. president has focused on expanding access to healthcare through the Affordable Care Act and the creation of healthcare marketplaces. In contrast, one previous presidential administration focused on repealing the Affordable Care Act and implementing policies that would decrease government involvement in healthcare. The other previous presidential administration focused on expanding Medicaid coverage and strengthening the individual mandate.
In terms of financial and other resources, the current/sitting U.S. president has allocated funding to support the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, as well as funding for Medicaid expansion. The previous presidential administration that focused on repealing the Affordable Care Act proposed significant cuts to Medicaid and other healthcare programs. The other previous presidential administration allocated funding to support Medicaid expansion and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
In terms of approach, the current/sitting U.S. president has focused on expanding access to healthcare through government-supported programs and marketplaces. One previous presidential administration has focused on decreasing government involvement in healthcare and allowing the private market to drive healthcare access. The other previous presidential administration has focused on expanding access to healthcare through Medicaid expansion and strengthening the individual mandate.
The Department of Health and Human Services would likely be the administrative agency responsible for helping to address the healthcare issue of access to affordable healthcare. This issue may get on the agenda for the current and two previous presidents through various means, such as grassroots advocacy, lobbying efforts, and the recommendations of policy experts. It may stay on the agenda through ongoing public attention, political support, and the continuation of efforts to address the issue.
As for the entrepreneur/champion/sponsor of the healthcare issue of access to affordable healthcare for the current and two previous presidents, it would be individuals or groups such as consumer advocacy organizations, healthcare providers, and policy experts.
In terms of communicating the importance of this healthcare issue to a policymaker or legislator, it is important to highlight the significant impact that lack of access to affordable healthcare has on individuals and communities, as well as the economic costs of untreated health conditions. Additionally, nurses can play a vital role in agenda-setting for healthcare issues by providing expert testimony, engaging in advocacy efforts, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals and stakeholders.
Ensuring access to affordable healthcare is a crucial issue that affects the health and well-being of individuals and communities, and should be a priority in healthcare policy and legislative agendas.
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The Assignment: (1-page Comparison Grid, 1-Page Analysis, and 1-page Fact Sheet)
Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid
Use the Agenda Comparison Grid Template found in the Learning Resources and complete the Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid based on the current/sitting U.S. president and the two previous presidential administrations and their agendas related to the public health concern you selected. Be sure to address the following:
Identify and provide a brief description of the population health concern you selected and the factors that contribute to it.
Describe the administrative agenda focus related to the issue you selected.
Identify the allocations of financial and other resources that the current and two previous presidents dedicated to this issue.
Explain how each of the presidential administrations approached the issue.
Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis
Using the information you recorded in Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid on the template, complete the Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis portion of the template, by addressing the following:
Which administrative agency would most likely be responsible for helping you address the healthcare issue you selected?
How do you think your selected healthcare issue might get on the agenda for the current and two previous presidents? How does it stay there?
Who would you choose to be the entrepreneur/ champion/sponsor of the healthcare issue you selected for the current and two previous presidents?
At least 2 outside and 2-3 course resources are used.
Part 3: Narrative
Using the information recorded on the template in Parts 1 and 2, develop a 1-page narrative that you could use to communicate with a policymaker/legislator or a member of their staff for this healthcare issue. Be sure to address the following:
Summarize why this healthcare issue is important and should be included in the agenda for legislation.
Justify the role of the nurse in agenda setting for healthcare issues.
At least 3 resources are used.
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Writing Guide:
Population Health Concern: Opioid crisis
Factors that contribute to the opioid crisis include overprescription of opioid painkillers, lack of access to addiction treatment, and a lack of education on the risks of opioid use.
Administrative Agenda Focus:
The Administration of President Biden has focused on addressing the opioid crisis through increasing funding for addiction treatment and expanding access to medication-Helped treatment, as well as increasing access to mental health services and addressing the social determinants of health that contribute to the opioid crisis. The Administration of President Trump focused on enforcing stricter regulations on opioid prescriptions and increasing funding for law enforcement efforts to combat the illegal distribution of opioids, as well as providing grants for states to help combat the opioid epidemic. The Administration of President Obama focused on expanding access to addiction treatment and increasing funding for research on non-opioid pain management alternatives, as well as providing grants for states to help combat the opioid epidemic. The Administration of President Bush focused on increasing funding for law enforcement efforts to combat the illegal distribution of opioids and providing grants for states to help combat the opioid epidemic.
Allocations of Financial and Other Resources:
The Administration of President Biden has allocated funding to support the expansion of addiction treatment, access to medication-Helped treatment, and expanding access to mental health services. The Administration of President Trump proposed significant cuts to funding for addiction treatment and research on non-opioid pain management alternatives, but also provided grants for states to help combat the opioid epidemic. The Administration of President Obama allocated funding to support the expansion of addiction treatment, increase access to naloxone, and research on non-opioid pain management alternatives, as well as providing grants for states to help combat the opioid epidemic. The Administration of President Bush allocated funding to support law enforcement efforts to combat the illegal distribution of opioids and provided grants for states to help combat the opioid epidemic.
Approach:
The Administration of President Biden has focused on addressing the opioid crisis through increasing access to addiction treatment, expanding access to medication-Helped treatment, and addressing the social determinants of health that contribute to the opioid crisis. The Administration of President Trump focused on enforcing stricter regulations on opioid prescriptions and increasing funding for law enforcement efforts to combat the illegal distribution of opioids. The Administration of President Obama focused on expanding access to addiction treatment and increasing funding for research on non-opioid pain management alternatives. The Administration of President Bush focused on increasing funding for law enforcement efforts to combat the illegal distribution of opioids and providing grants for states to help combat the opioid epidemic.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) would be the administrative agency most likely responsible for helping to address the healthcare issue of the opioid crisis. This issue may get on the agenda for the current and previous presidents through various means, such as grassroots advocacy, lobbying efforts, and the recommendations of policy experts. It may stay on the agenda through ongoing public attention, political support, and the continuation of efforts to address the issue.
Entrepreneur/Champion/Sponsor:
Individuals or groups such as addiction treatment providers, patient advocacy groups, and policy experts could be considered as entrepreneurs/champions/sponsors for the healthcare issue of the opioid crisis for the current and previous presidents.
In terms of communicating the importance of this healthcare issue to a policymaker or legislator, it is important to highlight the significant impact that the opioid crisis has on individuals, families, and communities, as well as the economic costs of untreated addiction. Additionally, nurses can play a vital role in agenda-setting for healthcare issues by providing expert testimony, engaging in advocacy efforts, and collaborating with other healthcare professionals and stakeholders.
