Policy Analysis You have learned the process in which policies are derived, disc

Policy Analysis
You have learned the process in which policies are derived, discussed, passed, and implemented. Once a policy is adopted at the state or federal level, the life of the policy should not stop there. Policies often have unintended consequences, possibly could have negative impacts or might not be effective in achieving their desired outcomes. Thus, once a policy has been implemented, it is essential that the policy continue to be reviewed and modified as necessary.
Many countries throughout the world are continually revising their healthcare policies. The German healthcare system that is touted for its durability and exceptional care originated in 1883 and has been reformed numerous times. Unlike countries like Germany, the United States has rarely attempted significant healthcare policy overhaul, which could be attributed to politics, as we discussed a few weeks ago. There are piecemeal legislations enacted frequently, but the ACA was the first major reform to the healthcare system since the enactment of Medicaid and Medicare in 1965. While many wanted to repeal the ACA, most other countries continue to work with their health policies and revamp them so as to improve their healthcare system.
Analyzing how policy and procedures are working can help industries function consistently and effectively. Since the healthcare field is so pervasive and changes so quickly, it’s imperative that policies continue to evolve with the industry. For example, “The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) is a federal law that requires anyone coming to an emergency department to be stabilized and treated, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay, but since its enactment in 1986 has remained an unfunded mandate” (American College of Emergency Physicians, n.d.). This law was passed almost 40 years ago and so much has changed. Emergency department (ED) admission is now experiencing more patients who present to the ED for nonemergent reasons since this enactment. While it is noble that the law seeks to provide care for individuals that are unable to pay, there is an abuse of the system that could be aided through amendment of this law. Another example of the need to reexamine policy can be seen with the ACA, passed in 2010. The goal of the ACA was to provide affordable health insurance to all in an attempt to increase access to care. While the ACA was a step in the right direction, analysis will reveal that it has not achieved all of its goals. While more adults were insured initially, there has now been a trend that more adults are underinsured than previously reported. This means that their coverage is insufficient to protect them from financial hardship. It has also been noted that access to insurance does not always increase access to care (Collins, Bhupal, & Doty, 2019). Thus, ideas that could improve the goals of the ACA could include expanding the use of Health Savings Accounts to be used in situations other than for high deductible health plans or increasing subsidies to states that have failed to expand Medicaid. References
American College of Emergency Physicians. (n.d.). EMTALA fact sheet. Collins, S., Bhupal, H., & Doty, M.(2019). Health insurance coverage eight years after the ACA. The Commonwealth Fund. Signature Assignment: Evaluate the Effectiveness of a Health Policy
This assignment will be submitted to Turnitin®.
Instructions :
As you prepare your Signature Assignment this week, please keep in mind that for your Week 8 assignment, you will review and respond to the feedback provided for the Week 7 Signature Assignment. You will also reflect on the course content, concepts, and course competencies, and critically analyze and document how these elements impact and/or advance your career interests and degree program pathway. Use an annotated bibliography to support your ideas. You will continue working with the policy you chose to implement in Week 6. You will utilize the policy analysis worksheet to examine whether the implemented policy is working in the desired way and the impact it is having on the organization. I have chosen this policy to implement at my choice of a hospitals orgnizations. Section 7(r) of the Fair Labor Standards Act – Break Time for Nursing Mothers Provision
Table: Policy Analysis: Key Questions
Framing Questions
What is the policy lever—is it legislative, administrative, regulatory, other?
What level of government or institution will implement?
How does the policy work/operate? (e.g., is it mandatory? Will enforcement be necessary? How is it funded? Who is responsible for administering the policy?)
What are the objectives of the policy?
What is the legal landscape surrounding the policy (e.g., court rulings, constitutionality)?
What is the historical context (e.g., has the policy been debated previously)?
What are the experiences of other jurisdictions?
What is the value-added of the policy?
What are the expected short, intermediate, and long-term outcomes?
What might be the unintended positive and negative consequences of the policy?
Criteria Questions
Public Health Impact: Potential for the policy to impact risk factors, quality of life, disparities, morbidity and mortality
How does the policy address the problem or issue (e.g., increase access, protect from exposure)?
What are the magnitude, reach, and distribution of benefit and burden (including impact on risk factor, quality of life, morbidity and mortality)?
What population(s) will benefit? How much? When?
What population(s) will be negatively impacted? How much? When?
Will the policy impact health disparities / health equity? How?
Are there gaps in the data/evidence-base?
Feasibility*: Likelihood that the policy can be successfully adopted and implemented
Political
What are the current political forces, including political history, environment, and policy debate?
Who are the stakeholders, including supporters and opponents? What are their interests and values?
What are the potential social, educational, and cultural perspectives associated with the policy option (e.g., lack of knowledge, fear of change, force of habit)?
What are the potential impacts of the policy on other sectors and high priority issues (e.g., sustainability, economic impact)?
Operational
What are the resource, capacity, and technical needs developing, enacting, and implementing the policy?
How much time is needed for the policy to be enacted, implemented, and enforced?
How scalable, flexible, and transferable is the policy?
Economic and budgetary impacts: Comparison of the costs to enact, implement, and enforce the policy with the value of the benefits
Budget
What are the costs and benefits associated with the policy, from a budgetary perspective?
e.g., for public (federal, state, local) and private entities to enact, implement, and enforce the policy?
Economic
How do costs compare to benefits (e.g., cost-savings, costs averted, ROI, cost- effectiveness, cost-benefit analysis, etc.)?
How are costs and benefits distributed (e.g., for individuals, businesses, government)?
What is the timeline for costs and benefits?
Where are there gaps in the data/evidence-base?
Centers for Disease Control (CDC). (2021, March 1). Policy analysis: key questions.
Length: 10-12 pages utilizing the provided template, not including title or reference pages.
References: Include a minimum of 5 peer-reviewed sources. Other scholarly and credible sources may also be used as supplemental support.