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Healthcare policy and politics in nursing and the U.S. healthcare delivery system have a rich history, complex structure, and intricate processes determining healthcare services and the nursing profession’s participation. Nurses and healthcare professionals must understand these changes to navigate healthcare policy and fight for policies that improve patient outcomes (Anders, 2020). These components can show how nursing has shaped healthcare policy and how nurses can continue improving healthcare in the U.S. This discussion examines the history, structure, and process of nursing healthcare policy and politics, focusing on significant milestones, players, and policy-making phases.
History
Key events and milestones characterize the history of healthcare policy and politics in nursing in the United States. Lavinia Dock, a nurse and women’s rights activist in the early twentieth century, significantly impacted nursing policy. Dock and other nursing pioneers created the American Nurses Association (ANA) in 1911. Medicare and Medicaid’s 1965 creation increased federal healthcare policy involvement, ensuring low-income and elderly persons received aid from these initiatives (Fulmer et al., 2021). The programs were implemented and delivered by nurses. In the 21st century, healthcare policy debates have focused on access, results, inequities, and prices. The 2010 Affordable Treatment Act (ACA) expanded insurance coverage, regulated insurance practices, and promoted preventive treatment (Crowley & Bornstein, 2019). Nurses advocated for ACA provisions that emphasized nursing practice and patient-centered care.
Structure
Nursing and healthcare policy and politics involve various stakeholders at various levels. HHS and other departments, such as CMS, develop and implement national healthcare policies. The CMS handles Medicare and Medicaid and establishes nursing and healthcare reimbursement policies. State governments oversee healthcare licenses, scope of practice, and funding (Leslie et al., 2021). State nursing boards govern nursing practice. The ANA, NLN, and specialty nursing organizations impact policy, advocate for nurses and patients, and promote their interests. Healthcare experts, insurers, consumer advocacy groups, and providers influence the policy. These stakeholders collaborate to develop policies that fulfill patient needs, improve healthcare quality, and address workforce challenges.
Process
Nursing healthcare policy and politics include agenda setting, policy development, policy execution, and policy evaluation (Hajizadeh et al., 2021). Setting the agenda involves prioritizing healthcare policy issues. Evidence, research, and stakeholder involvement are required to improve awareness of healthcare issues. Policy formulation develops solutions to healthcare challenges. This stage includes hearings, forums, and debates with policymakers, experts, advocacy groups, and stakeholders. Nurse organizations provide advice, research and lobby for evidence-based policies promoting nurse practice and patient care.
Policy development is followed by policy implementation. This stage entails developing guidelines, providing resources, and monitoring and enforcing compliance. Nurses create policies, enforce regulations, and assure patient safety and great care. Policy evaluation comprises monitoring outcomes, collecting data, and analyzing results to determine whether or not goals have been reached. Nursing scholars assess policies by examining their effects on nursing practice, patient outcomes, and healthcare systems. In recent years, healthcare policy debates have centered on access and affordability, private insurance versus government-funded programs, quality and patient safety, workforce problems, and technology in healthcare delivery. Nurses have led these discussions, advocating for policies that improve access to care, promote health equity, and strengthen the nursing profession.
In conclusion, nursing policy, politics, and U.S. healthcare delivery systems have changed. Nurses and nursing organizations have shaped policies that support high-quality care, the nursing profession, and changing healthcare requirements.
References
Anders, R. L. (2020). Engaging nurses in health policy in the era of COVID?19. Nursing Forum, 56(1), 89–94.
Crowley, R. A., & Bornstein, S. S. (2019). Improving the patient protection and affordable care act’s insurance coverage provisions: a position paper from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 170(9), 651.
Fulmer, T., Reuben, D. B., Auerbach, J., Fick, D. M., Galambos, C., & Johnson, K. S. (2021). Actualizing better health and health care for older adults. Health Affairs, 40(2), 10.1377/staff.
Hajizadeh, A., Zamanzadeh, V., Kakemam, E., Bahreini, R., & Khodayari-Zarnaq, R. (2021). Factors influencing nurses participation in the health policy-making process: A systematic review. BMC Nursing, 20(1).
Leslie, K., Moore, J., Robertson, C., Bilton, D., Hirschkorn, K., Langelier, M. H., & Bourgeault, I. L. (2021). Regulating health professional scopes of practice: comparing institutional arrangements and approaches in the US, Canada, Australia and the U.K. Human Resources for Health, 19(1).
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Introduction:
Healthcare policy and politics play a crucial role in shaping the delivery of healthcare services and the nursing profession’s participation. Nurses and healthcare professionals need to understand the history, structure, and process of healthcare policy and politics to effectively advocate for policies that improve patient outcomes. This discussion explores the key milestones, players, and phases involved in nursing healthcare policy and politics in the United States.
Answer to the Content:
The history of healthcare policy and politics in nursing in the United States is marked by significant events and milestones. One notable figure in nursing policy is Lavinia Dock, a nurse and women’s rights activist in the early twentieth century. Dock, along with other nursing pioneers, established the American Nurses Association (ANA) in 1911. The creation of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965 was another pivotal moment in healthcare policy. These federal initiatives aimed to provide assistance to low-income and elderly individuals and were implemented and delivered by nurses. In recent times, healthcare policy debates have centered around issues such as access, outcomes, inequities, and costs. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 expanded insurance coverage, regulated insurance practices, and promoted preventive care. Nurses played a vital role in advocating for provisions within the ACA that emphasized nursing practice and patient-centered care.
The structure of nursing and healthcare policy and politics involves diverse stakeholders at various levels. National healthcare policies are developed and implemented by departments such as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The CMS is responsible for Medicare and Medicaid and establishes nursing and healthcare reimbursement policies. At the state level, healthcare licenses, scope of practice, and funding are overseen by state governments. State nursing boards govern nursing practice. Professional organizations such as the American Nurses Association (ANA), National League for Nursing (NLN), and specialty nursing organizations have a significant impact on policy by advocating for nurses and patients and promoting their interests. Other stakeholders, including healthcare experts, insurers, consumer advocacy groups, and providers, also influence healthcare policy. Collaboration among these stakeholders is crucial in developing policies that address patient needs, enhance healthcare quality, and tackle workforce challenges.
The process of nursing healthcare policy and politics encompasses several stages. Agenda setting involves prioritizing healthcare policy issues, which requires evidence, research, and involvement of stakeholders to raise awareness about healthcare issues. Policy formulation involves developing solutions to healthcare challenges through hearings, forums, debates, and collaboration with policymakers, experts, advocacy groups, and stakeholders. Nurse organizations play a vital role in providing advice, conducting research, and lobbying for evidence-based policies that promote nursing practice and patient care. Policy implementation involves the development of guidelines, provision of resources, and monitoring and enforcement of compliance. Nurses are actively involved in creating policies, enforcing regulations, and ensuring patient safety and quality care. The final stage, policy evaluation, involves monitoring outcomes, collecting data, and analyzing results to determine if policy goals have been achieved. Nursing scholars evaluate policies by assessing their impact on nursing practice, patient outcomes, and healthcare systems.
In conclusion, nursing policy, politics, and the U.S. healthcare delivery system have undergone significant changes over time. Nurses and nursing organizations have played a crucial role in shaping policies that support high-quality care, the nursing profession, and the evolving healthcare needs of the population.
References:
Anders, R. L. (2020). Engaging nurses in health policy in the era of COVID-19. Nursing Forum, 56(1), 89–94.
Crowley, R. A., & Bornstein, S. S. (2019). Improving the patient protection and affordable care act’s insurance coverage provisions: a position paper from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 170(9), 651.
Fulmer, T., Reuben, D. B., Auerbach, J., Fick, D. M., Galambos, C., & Johnson, K. S. (2021). Actualizing better health and health care for older adults. Health Affairs, 40(2), 10.1377/hlthaff.2021.00009.
Hajizadeh, A., Zamanzadeh, V., Kakemam, E., Bahreini, R., & Khodayari-Zarnaq, R. (2021). Factors influencing nurses’ participation in the health policy-making process: A systematic review. BMC Nursing, 20(1).
Leslie, K., Moore, J., Robertson, C., Bilton, D., Hirschkorn, K., Langelier, M. H., & Bourgeault, I. L. (2021). Regulating health professional scopes of practice: comparing institutional arrangements and approaches in the US, Canada, Australia, and the U.K. Human Resources for Health, 19(1).
