Assignment: Agenda Comparison Grid and Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief
It may seem to you that healthcare has been a national topic of debate among political leaders for as long as you can remember.
Healthcare has been a policy item and a topic of debate not only in recent times but as far back as the administration of the second U.S. president, John Adams. In 1798, Adams signed legislation requiring that 20 cents per month of a sailor’s paycheck be set aside for covering their medical bills. This represented the first major piece of U.S. healthcare legislation, and the topic of healthcare has been woven into presidential agendas and political debate ever since.
As a healthcare professional, you may be called upon to provide expertise, guidance and/or opinions on healthcare matters as they are debated for inclusion into new policy. You may also be involved in planning new organizational policy and responses to changes in legislation. For all of these reasons you should be prepared to speak to national healthcare issues making the news.
In this Assignment, you will analyze recent presidential healthcare agendas. You also will prepare a fact sheet to communicate the importance of a healthcare issue and the impact on this issue of recent or proposed policy.
To Prepare:
- Review the agenda priorities of the current/sitting U.S. president and the two previous presidential administrations.
- Select an issue related to healthcare that was addressed by each of the last three U.S. presidential administrations.
- Reflect on the focus of their respective agendas, including the allocation of financial resources for addressing the healthcare issue you selected.
- Consider how you would communicate the importance of a healthcare issue to a legislator/policymaker or a member of their staff for inclusion on an agenda.
The Assignment: (1- to 2-page Comparison Grid, 1-Page Analysis, and 1-page Fact Sheet)
Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid
Use the Agenda Comparison Grid Template found in the Learning Resources and complete the Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid based on the current/sitting U.S. president and the two previous presidential administrations and their agendas related to the public health concern you selected. Be sure to address the following:
- Identify and provide a brief description of the population health concern you selected and the factors that contribute to it.
- Describe the administrative agenda focus related to the issue you selected.
- Identify the allocations of financial and other resources that the current and two previous presidents dedicated to this issue.
- Explain how each of the presidential administrations approached the issue.
Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis
Using the information you recorded in Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid on the template, complete the Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis portion of the template, by addressing the following:
- Which administrative agency would most likely be responsible for helping you address the healthcare issue you selected?
- How do you think your selected healthcare issue might get on the agenda for the current and two previous presidents? How does it stay there?
- Who would you choose to be the entrepreneur/ champion/sponsor of the healthcare issue you selected for the current and two previous presidents?
Part 3: Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief
Using the information recorded on the template in Parts 1 and 2, develop a 1-page Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief that you could use to communicate with a policymaker/legislator or a member of their staff for this healthcare issue. You can use Microsoft Word or PowerPoint to create your Fact Sheet or Talking Point Brief. Be sure to address the following:
- Summarize why this healthcare issue is important and should be included in the agenda for legislation.
- Justify the role of the nurse in agenda setting for healthcare issues.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The healthcare industry plays an important role in society, and healthcare policies are crucial in determining the healthcare services that individuals can receive. As a medical professor, it is critical to provide guidance on healthcare matters as they relate to new policies being debated. This Assignment will examine the presidential agendas of the current/sitting U.S. president and the two previous presidential administrations, focusing on one issue related to healthcare addressed by each administration. The Assignment will also prepare a fact sheet communicating the importance of the selected healthcare issue and its impact on legislation.
Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid
The population health concern selected is mental health, and the factors contributing to it include stress, trauma, and anxiety disorders.
The administrative agenda focus for each administration:
– Obama administration: The Affordable Care Act was established, which aimed to expand mental health services and provided insurance coverage for mental health treatment.
– Trump administration: The Trump administration proposed budget cuts to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
– Biden administration: The Biden administration has proposed investments in mental health resources, including funding for mental health providers and training for teachers to recognize signs of mental illness in students.
Allocations of financial and other resources dedicated to mental health:
– Obama administration: The Affordable Care Act allocated approximately $460 million toward the expansion of mental health services.
– Trump administration: The Trump administration proposed budget cuts of approximately $6 billion to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
– Biden administration: The American Rescue Plan will fund approximately $4 billion for substance abuse and mental health services.
Approach taken by each presidential administration:
– Obama administration: The approach taken by Obama was to expand mental health coverage through the Affordable Care Act.
– Trump administration: The Trump administration focused on reducing regulations, and budget cuts were proposed for mental health services.
– Biden administration: The Biden administration is taking a proactive approach by investing in mental health services for the country.
Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis
The administrative agency most likely responsible for helping to address mental health is the National Institute of Mental Health.
To get the selected healthcare issue on the agenda for the three presidential administrations, we would present data, statistics, and research to the policymakers or legislative bodies. The issue will be kept in the agenda through continued advocacy and inclusion in budget discussions.
For the current and two previous presidents, the entrepreneur or champion for mental health who should be selected is a mental health professional or an advocate with lived experience.
Part 3: Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief
The selected healthcare issue, mental health, is critical because it affects one in five individuals in the United States. Furthermore, mental health is interconnected with physical health, and addressing mental health problems can help prevent chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease.
Nurses are essential in agenda setting for healthcare issues because they are at the front lines of patient care and advocacy. Nurses can provide valuable insights on the challenges facing patients and communities, the effects of legislation on patient outcomes, and the resources necessary to improve patient care.
Overall, investing in mental health services is important for individuals, communities, and the country as a whole. By prioritizing mental health, we can improve patient outcomes, reduce costs associated with treating chronic illnesses, and invest in the well-being and productivity of society.
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