NRS-428VN Grand Canyon University – Describe the policy health issue. Include the following information: (a) what population is affected, (b) at what level does it occur (local, state, or national), and (c) evidence about the issues supported by resources.

QUESTION

Describe the policy health issue. Include the following information: (a) what population is affected, (b) at what level does it occur (local, state, or national), and (c) evidence about the issues supported by resources.

Create a problem statement.

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NRS-428VN Grand Canyon University – Describe the policy health issue. Include the following information: (a) what population is affected, (b) at what level does it occur (local, state, or national), and (c) evidence about the issues supported by resources.
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Provide suggestions for addressing the health issue caused by the current policy.

Describe what steps are required to initiate policy change. Include necessary stakeholders (government officials, administrators) and budget or funding considerations, if applicable.

Discuss the impact on the health care delivery system. Include three peer-reviewed sources and two other sources to support the policy brief.

ANSWER

Policy Health Issue: Lack of Universal Health Coverage

Introduction

The policy health issue at hand is the lack of universal health coverage, which affects a significant population and occurs at the national level. This problem statement aims to highlight the impact of this issue on the affected population, provide evidence from various resources, and propose suggestions to address the health issue caused by the current policy.

Population Affected

The lack of universal health coverage affects a broad population, including individuals and families who are uninsured or underinsured. It particularly affects vulnerable populations such as low-income individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, and those with chronic health conditions (McWilliams, 2009). Without adequate health coverage, these individuals face barriers to accessing necessary healthcare services, leading to poorer health outcomes and increased financial burdens.

Level of Occurrence

This policy issue occurs at the national level, as it involves the design and implementation of healthcare policies and systems that determine the accessibility and affordability of healthcare services for the entire population.

Evidence and Resources

The Commonwealth Fund, a reputable healthcare research organization, reports that approximately 28.5 million people in the United States were uninsured in 2020. This lack of coverage significantly hampers their ability to seek timely medical care and can result in delayed diagnoses and untreated conditions. (Source: The Commonwealth Fund – “How Many People Are Uninsured?”)

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) revealed that uninsured individuals are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage cancers, leading to lower survival rates and increased healthcare costs. (Source: JAMA – “Association Between Insurance Status and Access to Hospital Care and Outcomes Among Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction”)

The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) conducted research indicating that lack of health insurance is associated with higher mortality rates, as uninsured individuals are less likely to receive preventive care, have a regular source of primary care, or access necessary medications. (Source: Kaiser Family Foundation – “The Relationship Between Health Coverage and Access to Care”)

Suggestions for Addressing the Health Issue

Implement Universal Health Coverage: Establish a comprehensive healthcare system that ensures all individuals have access to essential healthcare services without financial hardship. This could be achieved through policies such as expanding Medicaid, creating a public option, or adopting a single-payer system.

Improve Health Insurance Affordability: Enact policies to reduce the cost of health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses for individuals and families, particularly for those with low incomes. This can be achieved through subsidies, cost-sharing reductions, and negotiations with healthcare providers to lower prices.

Enhance Outreach and Education Efforts: Increase public awareness about available health insurance options and eligibility criteria (Cousineau et al., 2011). This could involve targeted outreach campaigns, community engagement, and simplified enrollment processes.

Steps to Initiate Policy Change

Identify and Engage Stakeholders: Involve government officials, policymakers, healthcare administrators, representatives from insurance companies, healthcare providers, and advocacy groups in discussions and planning to initiate policy change (Lübbeke et al., 2019).

Conduct Research and Policy Analysis: Gather data on the current state of health coverage, healthcare costs, and the impact of the existing policy. Conduct policy analysis to understand the potential implications and benefits of different policy options.

Develop and Advocate for Legislation: Draft comprehensive legislation that addresses the identified issues and proposes necessary policy changes. Collaborate with key stakeholders to garner support, present evidence-based arguments, and advocate for the proposed policy changes.

Budget and Funding Considerations: Assess the financial implications of the proposed policy changes and secure adequate funding to implement the reforms. This could involve budgetary allocations, reallocation of existing resources, or exploring alternative funding mechanisms.

Impact on the Health Care Delivery System

Improved Health Outcomes: Universal health coverage would enhance access to preventive care, early diagnosis, and treatment, leading to improved health outcomes for the population.

Financial Relief: By reducing the burden of healthcare costs, universal health coverage would alleviate financial stress on individuals and families, reducing medical debt and bankruptcy rates.

Strengthened Health Care Infrastructure: Policy changes aimed at universal health coverage would incentivize the expansion and improvement of healthcare facilities and workforce, ensuring adequate capacity to meet the increased demand for services.

References

Cousineau, M. R., Stevens, G. D., & Farias, A. J. (2011). Measuring the Impact of Outreach and Enrollment Strategies for Public Health Insurance in California. Health Services Research. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6773.2010.01202.x 

Lübbeke, A., Carr, A., & Hoffmeyer, P. (2019). Registry stakeholders. EFORT Open Reviews, 4(6), 330–336. https://doi.org/10.1302/2058-5241.4.180077 

McWilliams, J. M. (2009). Health Consequences of Uninsurance among Adults in the United States: Recent Evidence and Implications. Milbank Quarterly, 87(2), 443–494. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0009.2009.00564.x 

 

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