health policy – a primer

HEALTH POLICY – A PRIMER

WHAT IS POLICY?

A PLAN OR COURSE OF ACTION DESIGNED TO DEFINE ISSUES, INFLUENCE DECISION-MAKING, AND PROMOTE BROAD COMMUNITY ACTION.

POLICY DEVELOPMENT IS THE PROCESS BY WHICH SOCIETY MAKES DECISIONS.

SELECTS GOALS. HANDLES CONFLICTING VIEWS. DECIDES WHAT SHOULD BE DONE.

PRIVATE POLICY

CONSISTS OF A SERIES OF ACTIONS INTENDED TO PURSUADE PRIVATE SECTOR DECISION-MAKERS TO ADDRESS A LOCAL PROBLEM.

PUBLIC POLICY

IS A SET (POLICY) OF RULES THAT PEOPLE (THE PUBLIC) MUST ABIDE BY.

LAWS, REGULATIONS, COURT ORDER, ETC.

FEDERAL LAWS

MOST FEDERAL HEALTH POLICY IS ESTABLISHED DURING THE BUDGET-MAKING PROCESS WHEN APPROPRIATIONS AND AUTHORIZATION FOR NEW AND EXISTING PROGRAMS ARE DEBATED

STATE LAWS

MANY STATE LAWS OF INTEREST TO COMMUNITY HEALTH ACTIVISTS ARE THOSE ENACTED TO PUT THE STATE IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW.

EXAMPLE

MEDICAID MANAGED CARE LAWS OR LAWS WHICH CREATE A NEW STATE-BASED HEALTH PROGRAM.

MORE HEALTH ISSUES THAN YOU CAN REALLY IMAGINE….

THE VAGARIES OF HEALTH-CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS.

HEALTH COSTS AND LONGER LIVES.

PHARAMACEUTICS

MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

MANAGED CARE AND MANAGED COMPETITION

THE MEDICARE SYSTEM

HEALTH INSURANCE ISSUES

HEALTH CARE REFORM

POLICY-MAKING IS NOT ALWAYS A RATIONAL AND ORDERLY PROCESS, IT IS A POLITICAL PROCESS.

NEGOTIATION, CONFLICTS, COMPETITION

FORMS OF PUBLIC POLICY

FOUNDATION OF ALL PUBLIC POLICY IS THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

LEGAL STATUTES, ACTS, RESOLUTIONS.

WHERE DOES POLICY BEGIN?

THE AGENDA OF THE WHITE HOUSE

IDEAS ARE GENERALLY AS THIS HEADLINE READS…

“THE PRESIDENT CALLS ON CONGRESS……”

http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/health-care

ENSURING THAT EVERY AMERICAN CAN CHOOSE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE THAT MEETS THEIR NEEDS.

EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE A HEALTH PLAN THAT MEETS THEIR NEEDS.

IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE

PATIENTS’ BILL OF RIGHTS

PROHIBIT GENETIC DISCRIMINATION

EFFECTIVE PRIVACY PROTECTION FOR MEDICAL RECORDS.

SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM

KEEP SOCIAL SECURITY FINANCIALLY SOUND SO CITIZENS CAN DEPEND UPON WHAT WAS PROMISED THEM IN THEIR RETIREMENT YEARS.

WHAT IS POLICY?

A PLAN OR COURSE OF ACTION DESIGNED TO DEFINE ISSUES, INFLUENCE DECISION-MAKING, AND PROMOTE BROAD COMMUNITY ACTION.

THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF CREATING POLICY REMAIN THE SAME, HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE A WHOLE NEW GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH A DIFFERENT AGENDA WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.

It’ll soon be Thanksgiving…

End of Lecture for 6th Period, November 7th, 2011

Discussion?

Questions?