DISCUSSION 1
Question A:
Discuss health care interest groups and their concerns. Support your discussion with references and real-life examples.
Question B:
What do you think the future of health policy will look like in the United States? Can you give some suggestions to improve?
REPLY TO MY CLASSMATE’S DISCUSSION TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU AGREE.
CLASSMATE’S POST
Question A:
Healthcare policies and regulations are in many cases politically driven. When there is a demand for services, special interest groups can influence the decision-making process. “Interest groups’ pluralism affects health policy just as it does any other policy debate in American politics (Shi, 2015. P324).” Some examples of interest groups are AARP, American Medical Association, and American Hospital Association (Shi, 2015)
AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) is an example of a special interest group for senior citizens. In 2019, AARP supported the passing of House Bill 177 in Ohio. House Bill 177 was proposed to give advanced access for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN). ARRP suggested that this would make healthcare treatment available to the citizens of Ohio since there was a shortage of physicians. (PR Newswire, 2019).
Question B:
As political divide continues to separate our country, this has an impact on health policies. Legislation cannot be passed if both parties do not come to an agreement. I feel most Americans would hope for more accessible, affordable, and advanced level of care. However, who is going to pay? There are diverse opinions of others for what they feel is important in health policy.
“The United States has a health care industry that costs far more money but allows higher rates of preventable hospitalizations and avoidable deaths than most other countries (Frieden et al, 2021, p624).” Disease prevention, awareness, and education is important in helping Americans become healthier. Policies that can benefit any group in healthcare treatment are valuable. I hope for better quality and affordability, but political parties have to place some of their conflicts and differences aside.
References
Frieden, T. R., Rajkumar, R., & Mostashari, F. (2021). We Must Fix US Health and Public Health Policy. American Journal of Public Health, 111(4), 623–627. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.306125
PR Newswire. (2019, April 30). Proposed solution to Ohio’s healthcare shortage gains AARP support. PR Newswire US.
Shi, L. (2015). Essentials of the U.S. Health Care System (4th Edition). Jones & Bartlett
Learning. https://ambassadored.vitalsource.com/books/9781284113044
DISCUSSION 2
Question A:
Discuss health care interest groups and their concerns. Support your discussion with references and real-life examples.
Question B:
What do you think the future of health policy will look like in the United States? Can you give some suggestions to improve?
REPLY TO MY CLASSMATE’S DISCUSSION TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU AGREE.
CLASSMATE’S POST
Question A:
The government often plays a part in the growth of healthcare policy and regulations. Besides the government, there are groups of individuals, providers, and other health care field-related organizations and personalities who are interested in health systems referred to as an interested group. Hannah, J. (2015) mentioned interest groups have their own special interests and when reforms are on the table, each group likely wants something slightly different out of reform. As a result, there will be conflict, that will restrict the choice of methods and the formulation of the agenda, as well as the policy belief system. For examples,
1. Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Interest Group are mainly focused on the impact on the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people utilizing their knowledge and skill to relevant policies, Lux ford, Y. (2021).
2. Academy Health’s Global Health and Health Care Interest Group aim to bring together academics, practitioners, policymakers, and trainees who are interested in health services and systems research (HSR) on a worldwide scale. The objective of the group is to promote the worldwide development, diffusion, and application of HSR to enhance healthcare quality, efficiency, effectiveness, and results, as well as global health status and quality of life, (Academy Health, 2022).
Question B:
The future of health care has been reformed in these recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic leading to dramatic transformation driven by new business models, emerging technologies, and highly engaged consumers, (Deloitte, 2022). Enhanced customer active participation, information sharing, and transparency are influencing the future of health care, and the United States is a key player in all of this. As a result of increased accessibility and transparency, not everyone can afford it. In other words, I believe that most health care should be cost-effective for nearly all people. Services should be tailored to the needs of the most vulnerable members of society. moreover, I believe that public health awareness campaigns and services must receive funding. Health policies need to be focused on public health, not on interest groups.
References:
Academy Health (2022) Global Health and Health Care Interest Group. Retrieved from https://academyhealth.org/professional-resources/interest-groups/global-health-and-health-care-interest-group/page/global-health-and-health-care-interest-group
Deloitte (2022). The Future of Health: Innovation is blurring traditional health care boundaries. Life Sciences and Health care Perspectives. Retrieved from https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/life-sciences-and-health-care/articles/future-of-health.html
Hannan, J. (2015). The Effectiveness of the Strategies Interest Groups Use to Influence Health Care Reform in The United States: A Case Study Analysis of President Clinton, Bush, and Obama’s Health Care Reforms. Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 6765. Retrieved from https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/6765/
Lux ford, Y. (2021) Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Special Interest Group. Advocating for increased preventive health investment. Public Health Association Australia. Retrieved from https://www.phaa.net.au/about-us/SIGs/aboriginal-torres-strait-islander-health
Shi, L. (2015). Essentials of the U.S. Health Care System (4th Edition). Jones & Bartlett
