Read the case studies in Chapter 3 of Policy and Politics for Nurses and Other Health Professionals. Examine what Margaret Sanger, The Arkansas State Legislature, and others have done to make changes to health care policy. Outline the process that these pioneers took to effect change. Describe how policy change moves from internal adoption to legislation. Discuss expertise and internal and external advocacy. Give an example of a policy change you would advocate for.
INCLUDE 3 PEER REVIEWED REFERENCES
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Introduction:
The healthcare industry is constantly evolving, and policy and politics play a significant role in shaping it. As a medical professor, it is vital to equip students with an understanding of the process of effecting change in the healthcare policy arena. This article will examine how pioneers such as Margaret Sanger and the Arkansas State Legislature brought about changes in healthcare policy, the process of moving from internal adoption to legislation, the role of expertise and advocacy. Additionally, we will provide an example of a policy change worth advocating.
Answer:
Margaret Sanger and the Arkansas State Legislature were among the pioneers in bringing about changes to healthcare policy. These pioneers had a clear understanding of the process of effecting change in healthcare policy. They identified the problems, built a coalition of supporters, created a strategic plan, and conducted advocacy campaigns using research, lobbying, and public relations skills.
Policy change is a complex process that usually involves adopting only small aspects of change at a time before implementing more profound transformations. For a policy change to move from internal adoption to legislation, it requires support from policymakers, citizens, and other stakeholders. Furthermore, it requires extensive consultations, expert analysis, and deliberations to ensure the policy change is evidence-based, feasible, and sustainable.
Expertise and advocacy are critical when advocating for policy change. Advocates must have the technical expertise, deep understanding, and insights into the problems they are trying to solve. They must provide evidence-based research, data analysis, cost analyses, and other reports to policymakers and stakeholders.
An excellent example of a policy change worth advocating is the reduction of the administrative burden on healthcare providers. Regulations, policies, and procedures often take up a significant amount of time and resources, thereby detracting from healthcare providers’ ability to provide quality healthcare. A reduction of the administrative burden would lead to improved efficiency, reduced costs, and higher quality healthcare.
References:
1. Aaron, H. J. (2011). The politics of Medicare. Columbia University Press.
2. Jorgensen, P. D., Laegreid, P., & Rykkja, L. H. (2020). Exploring the politics of expertise in the public sector: policy professionals’ expectations and experiences. Public Management Review, 22(7), 1003-1022.
3. Oliver, T. R. (2020). Creating policy change in tobacco control, part II: combining policy analysis, coalitional politics, and change strategy theories to navigate the policy jungle. Journal of public health policy, 41(1), 11-19.
