Assignment Task:
To Prepare:
- Review the agenda priorities of the current/sitting U.S. president and at least one previous presidential administration.
Tip: You can locate presidential agenda information by searching Google for your health topic and the president. For example, mental health Obama presidential agenda.
- Select an issue related to healthcare that was addressed by two U.S. presidential administrations (current and previous).
- 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.
- Use your Week 1 Discussion post to help with this assignment
The Assignment: (1- to 2-page Comparison Grid, 1-Page Analysis, and 1-page narrative) with a title page. This is an APA paper. Use 2-3 course resources and at least 2 outside resources.
(This is the discussion post)
Main Discussion:
Social Determinant Most Affecting the Health Issue:
Opioid dependency is a population health concern that has moved to the presidential level because of the social havoc it has caused across the United States (Jalali et al., 2020). This issue is mainly determined by economic stability and, more so, poverty and unemployment. These circumstances cause stress, mental health disorders, and restrictions on healthcare, contributing to substance use. Economic disadvantages lead to limited education and career opportunities that contribute to the promotion of addiction in economically poor places, and inadequate healthcare does not prevent or treat addiction. Combating economic instability by focusing on employment opportunities, social welfare programs, and affordable healthcare can significantly help decrease opioid abuse and dependence.
How Two Recent Presidents Handled the Problem:
President Barack Obama acknowledged the problem of opioid abuse and acted through the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) of 2016 (Gross & Gordon, 2020). This law provided money for prevention, treatment, recovery, and research. Obama offered Medicaid and naloxone in the ACA so that more people could receive addiction treatment. Such measures provided the basis for addressing the crisis through promoting sanitary and epidemiological measures and developing health care.
President Donald Trump announced the opioid crisis as a state of emergency in 2017, which led to increased national focus on the problem. His administration started programs such as the SUPPORT Act that sought to improve programs that sought to prevent the use of opioids and increase treatment for the disease. Trump focused on border security to keep out unauthorized substances such as narcotics and health care service rules to limit opioids. However, critics argue that funding was inadequate to deal with the problem to the extent that there were untreated gaps.
What I Would Do Differently:
To address the opioid epidemic more effectively, I would prioritize a holistic approach that integrates economic, educational, and healthcare reforms. This strategy would boost government funding for community-based treatment and recovery for national equity. Expanding mental health services in schools and workplaces may enable early substance use intervention. I would finance education to reduce addiction stigma and promote medication-assisted rehabilitation. Unlike previous administrations, I would promote federal, state, and local partnership to develop epidemic-affected community solutions. A robust focus on addressing root causes, such as poverty and unemployment, would ensure a sustainable reduction in opioid misuse and its associated health disparities.
References:
Gross, J., & Gordon, D. B. (2020). The Strengths and Weaknesses of Current US Policy to Address Pain. American Journal of Public Health, 109(1), 66-72.
Jalali, M. S., Botticelli, M., Hwang, R. C., Koh, H. K., & McHugh, R. K. (2020). The opioid crisis: A contextual, social-ecological framework. Health Research Policy and Systems, 18(1).
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 previous president, and their agendas related to the population health concern you selected. Be sure to address the following:
- Identify and provide a brief description of the population health concern you selected.
- Explain how each of the presidential administrations approached the issue.
- Identify the allocation of resources that the presidents dedicated to this 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 (like HHS, CDC, FDA, OHSA) would most likely be responsible for helping you address the healthcare issue you selected and why is this agency the most helpful for the issue?
- How do you think your selected healthcare issue might get on the presidential agenda? How does it stay there?
- An entrepreneur/champion/sponsor helps to move the issue forward. Who would you choose to be the entrepreneur/champion/sponsor (this can be a celebrity, a legislator, an agency director, or others) of the healthcare issue you selected and why would this person be a good entrepreneur/ champion/sponsor? An example is Michael J. Fox is champion for Parkinson's disease.
Part 3: Fact Sheet
Using the information recorded on the template in Parts 1 and 2, develop a 1-page fact sheet that you could use to communicate with a policymaker/legislator or a member of their staff for this healthcare issue. 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.
Assignment document should include:
1. Title page
2. Introductory paragraph
3. Agenda comparison grid and analysis
4. Fact sheet
5. Summary/conclusions
6. References
Required Readings:
- Short, N. M. (2022). Milstead's health policy and politics: A nurse's guide (7th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
o Chapter 1, "Informing Public Policy: An Important Role for Registered Nurses" (pp. 2-23 only)
o Chapter 3, "Problem Identification and Agenda Setting: What Rises to a Policymaker's Attention?" (pp. 57-71)
o Chapter 10, "Financing Health Care" (pp. 229-239)
o Chapter 12, "An Insider's Guide to Engaging in Policy Activities" (pp. 293-301)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (n.d.). Diabetes fact sheets
- DeMarco, R., & Tufts, K. A. (2014). The mechanics of writing a policy brief. Nursing Outlook, 62(3), 219-224.
- Kingdon, J.W. (2001). A model of agenda-setting with applications. Law Review M.S.U.-D.C.L
- Lamb, G., Newhouse, R., Beverly, C., Toney, D. A., Cropley, S., Weaver, C. A., Kurtzman, E., ... Peterson, C. (2015). Policy agenda for nurse-led care coordination. Nursing Outlook, 63(4), 521-530. doi:10.1016/j.outlook.2015.06.003.
- O'Rourke, N. C., Crawford, S. L., Morris, N. S., & Pulcini, J. (2017). Political efficacy and participation of nurse practitioners. Policy, Politics, and Nursing Practice, 18(3), 135-148.
- OASIS. (n.d.). Evaluate resources: An interactive guide. Walden University.
- Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Enhancing Environmental Health Content in Nursing Practice, Pope, A. M., Snyder, M. A., & Mood, L. H. (Eds.). (n.d.). Nursing health, &environment: Strengthening the relationship to improve the public's health.
- USA.gov. (n.d.). A-Z index of U.S. government departments and agencies
- USA.gov. (n.d.). Branches of the US government
- The White House. (n.d.). The cabinet
- Document: APA Course Paper Template (APA 7) (Word document)
- Document: Agenda Comparison Grid Template (Word document)