Policy Process free essay sample

The Policy Process: Part I Susan Kunz HCS 455 July 6, 2011 Rich Jones The Policy Process: Part I Patient access to affordable health care is an ongoing issue in the United States. The first portion of the policy process involves three different stages, the formulation stage, legislative stage, and the implementation stage. Three main stages exist in the process to transform a topic into a policy (Morone, J. A. , Litman, T. J. , Robins, L. S. , 2008). Coupled with the implementation stage is an evaluation of all the stages to determine effectiveness and gather information for use in future public health care policy making.In the formulation stage, the ideas, concepts, and information steam from this process of policy making. The evaluation process is defined as the stage where deliberations, discussions, debates, and justifications are done. The implementation phase occurs when the adopted policy is acted upon (Abood, 2007). In the United States the government finances health care for the elderly, blind, and the disabled with low income and limited resources. We will write a custom essay sample on Policy Process or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page With the help of the economy over the years, health care clearly developed into the largest growing health field since 1975 (The Kaiser Family Foundation, 2010). This paper will focus on the first three portions of how the process takes place within Medicaid. Formulation Stage The first stage of the process is the Formulation Stage, which by definition is the â€Å"first and often most challenging stage in using formal decision methods (and in decision analysis in particular). The Formulation Stage also includes a lot of extensive research from different individuals, various organizations, and different types of interest groups. The main purpose of the formulation stage is to create a formal example of the given decision,† (Wikipedia, 2010).At this point those individuals over the age of 65 had little to no access to health insurance and other individuals had inadequate health care coverage. The American people rejected the idea of the government mandating health insurance year after year prior to Johnson singing the bill into effect in 1965. American’s returned year after year pursing different concepts and ideas to receive som e sort of health insurance concept passed. Whether it meant spreading information, ideas or by deliberately starting rumors that certain items were paid by government funds to get the bill passed.After the Medicaid bill was formulated, the bill had to be sent through a debate phase or what can be better defined as the Legislation Stage. Legislative Stage The definition for Legislative Stage â€Å"is the introduction of a bill in the House of Assembly by a member of the Assembly. The next stage is for the bill to be called for second reading. Except by unanimous consent, second reading may not begin until the bill has been printed and distributed to the members and this has been signified on the order paper. The next stage is for the bill to be called for third reading.Unless the House of Assembly orders third reading to begin immediately, third reading takes place on a future day,† (Legislation Process, 2006). The Medicaid debate has been, was, and still is a large expansion of public health care. The bill contained a wide variety of public health issue as well as covering every type of health coverage for children, blind, and low-income families. Implementation Stage The final stage that will be discussed in this paper is the implementation stage in which is considered to be the expression portion of the decision stage.Through different methods like policies, mechanisms, and legislation implementation is born. It is at this point that the decisions made by the correct individuals when situations come to life. On the downside the implementation stage is one of the most difficult tasks when acquiring to deal and confront already existing cultures. â€Å"The Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-554) allowed persons with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrigs Disease) to waive the 24-month waiting period,† (Medicare, 2010). Medicaid, which is a separate federal funded insurance was intended to cover low-income, aged, blind, disabled individuals, parents, and their dependent children on welfare. However, the senior citizens are the population group most likely to be living in poverty, and only about half of these individuals have insurance coverage. The difference between 1965 and now, of course, is costs. Years ago spending more on health care in result covering more people were the whole point. The administration wants to broaden coverage, but cut spending.The American Health Care system needs to be constantly improved to keep up with the demands of America’s health care system. In order for the American Health Care system to improve policies must be constantly reviewed. Congress still plays a powerful role in public policy making (Morone, Litman, ; Robins, 2008). A health care policy is put in place to reach a desired health outcome, which may have a meaningful effect on people. People in position of authority advocates for a new policy for the group they have special interest in helping. The Health care system is formed by the health care policy making process (Abood, 2007).There are public, institutional, and business policies related to health care developed by hospitals, accrediting organizations, or managed care organizations (Abood, 2007). A policy is implemented to improve the health among people in the United States. Some policies take longer than others to be implemented if they are a big change, controversial, or costly (Abood, 2007). ). All public policies that are amended by the local, state, or federal government are normally acted through the regulatory process, which converts the said policy into an established set of rules, which are administered by the various agencies of the government.The challenge to maintain and improve health care today is an everyday job for government and state officials. Health care professionals around the world work in servitude to ensure the wellbeing of others and maintain a systematic way of providing these needs. These officials are in constant preparation and negotiation of improvement policies for a more effective health care system. The decision to incorporate, revise, and sometimes remove these policies are vitally important to the American people, therefore cannot be taken lightly.The three stages of the process of a topic becoming a policy will be discussed: formulation, legislative, and implementation. One must realize the importance of understanding the process of how a topic eventually becomes a policy. A political process must be undergone to make a topic a policy. The idea, or the brainstorming effect, is the initial onset of beginning this process. Once the topic in evident, administration begins the routine sorting of advantages and disadvantages. In the problematic world oday, more problems are evident than any organization can handle. Many of the issues today never make it to the political surface. The number of uninsured and underinsured American people is high, which conflicts patient access to affordable health care. The majority of people in this category may live in poverty. The uninsured and underinsured struggle with rising cost of health care because it is impossible for he or she to access affordable healthcare. The proposed public policy is to ensure affordable health care for all citizens.The proposition is to take state tax returns and a percentage of lottery proceeds to generate a funds to purchase affordable health insurance for people without or with insufficient health insurance. Counties within the state will take a poll of the number of people without health insurance. Conclusion Patient access to affordable healthcare is an ongoing issue in the United States. Policies have been implemented and the cost of health care continues to rise. The first portion of the policy process involves three different stages, the formulation stage, legislative stage, and the implementation stage.