University of Alabama at Birmingham WK9 Health Policy Topic and Advocacy Goal Essay

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  • Develop a Policy Action Plan to outline continued advocacy for your health policy issue. This assignment should be approximately 2-4 pages excluding references. The written Policy Action Plan must include the following:
  • I have attached the instructions for this assignment labled wk 9 guide. the rest of the documents are build up of this assignment leading up to this week to guide you.

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Upon completion of this assignment, you should be able to: • • Advocate for the nursing profession in healthcare policy and healthcare communities Develop ethical interventions to influence healthcare policy Introduction This week you will be looking to the future and developing plans to actually move your policy issue further along to the next step in the policy cycle. Consider how you will continue to advocate for your chosen topic. Plan what actions must be taken and develop a presentation for your colleagues Instructions 1. Develop a Policy Action Plan to outline continued advocacy for your health policy issue. This assignment should be approximately 2-4 pages excluding references. The written Policy Action Plan must include the following: o Clearly identify the health policy topic and the goal of your policy advocacy o Plan explicitly outlines the policy vehicle(s) and /or legislative authority. Include related rationale for addressing the problem and goal (current and pending) o Summary of the historic review, key landmarks, and significant outcomes o Review of all stakeholders, along with their positions and views on the issue. Identify critical alliances o Detailed outline of all plan activities/components and timeline including: ▪ Stakeholder engagement activities ▪ Development and distribution plan for “message materials” ▪ Identify lobbying activities and public hearings as well as other relevant legislative sessions & policy-making activities ▪ Include legislative activity & budget cycle considerations o Clearly outline strategic leadership role Guidelines: Policy Action Plan A strategic plan to engage stakeholders and others to influence an identified policycentric problem with an identified set of policy-related actions and timeline. Your action plan will relate to and build upon your policy brief (subject matter and policy opportunity explained in the Policy Brief). It will identify all relevant stakeholders, particularly those you will be working to engage and or mitigate. It will include relevant action steps and strategies you expect to implement and the timetable (1-2 years) as it relates to the appropriate/relevant legislative calendar and your strategies. Purpose: • • • To apply leadership skills and tactics in the development of an action plan to influence public health policy on a selected problem/subject/issue/opportunity. To reflect on one’s personal leadership strengths and style to identify approaches, strategies, tactics that will be utilized in the development and implementation of a policy action plan To apply knowledge of the public policymaking process and engage stakeholders and others to identify a timeline and strategic approach to influencing an identified health policy topic/area of interest Running head: HEALTH POLICY ADVOCACY Health Policy Advocacy Student’s name: Institutional affiliation: 1 HEALTH POLICY ADVOCACY 2 Health Policy Advocacy • What is your topic of interest? The selected topic of interest is mental health. Mental health is definitely a public health area that requires policy changes because many individuals are still unaware of the prevalence of mental health in the society coupled with low access to mental healthcare (Altiraifi & Rapfogel, 2020). • Why is this health policy topic important? Mental health is an important area of concern because many individuals lack access to mental healthcare; there are low literacy levels in the community regarding mental health; mental health is linked as a causative factor for other diseases; and lack of proper legislations to guide assistance towards those affected by mental health (Mental Health America, 2021). Mental health is also an important current legislative area because of the ongoing pandemic that has caused increased prevalence of mental health in the community. The issue of mental health is also of critical concern because of the increased suicides, homicides, and mass shootings, attributed to an increase in mental health instability among individuals. Mental health is also of importance because it is ultimately linked to national economic development and productivity as it influences productivity and dependence of individuals (Mental Health America, 2021). Mental health also influences academic and personal development, making it a critical area of concern for the government and society. • Provide evidence to support your position According to National Alliance on Mental Illness (2021), at least 1 in 5 adults exhibit a mental disease each year. Similarly important is the fact that at least 1 in every 6 youths aged 617 exhibit a mental illness each year. It is also important to note that at least 75% of all mental HEALTH POLICY ADVOCACY 3 health issues begin by age 24 and at least 50% of mental health patients begin suffering by age 14 (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2021). It is also saddening that suicide is the second leading cause of death among those aged 10-34. According to National Alliance on Mental Illness (2021), only 44.8% of adults received mental health treatment in 2019, which is compared to only 50.6% of youths aged 6-17 who received mental health treatment in 2016. Evidence also suggests that those with depression have a 40% increased risk of developing metabolic and cardiovascular diseases (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2021). Mental health issues are also linked with substance use disorder, where 18.4% of adults with mental issues used substances in 2019. When focusing on the impact of mental health on the family and society, at least 8.4 million people take care of a loved one that is suffering from mental health (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2021). This translates to at least 32 hours per week of unpaid care, while at the same time reducing the productivity of the caregivers in their employment. When focusing on the impact of mental health on the economy, mental health causes at least $193.2 billion loss each year. These findings ultimately paint a gruesome picture of the impact of mental health in the society, necessitating immediate policy changes to address this menace. • What legislator will you attempt to visit? I will attempt to visit Senator Patty Murray, who is the chairperson of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. I believe that entrusting Senator Murray with my policy change proposal could help to initiate real changes in mental healthcare because she has an influential position in the Senate committee on health. References HEALTH POLICY ADVOCACY 4 Altiraifi, A., & Rapfogel, N. (2020). Mental Health Care Was Severely Inequitable, Then Came the Coronavirus Crisis. Retrieved from Center for American Progress: https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/disability/reports/2020/09/10/490221/mentalhealth-care-severely-inequitable-came-coronavirus-crisis/ Mental Health America. (2021). Mental Health Policy. Retrieved from Mental Health America: https://mhanational.org/policy-issues National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2021). Mental Health By the Numbers. Retrieved from National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/mhstats Health Policy Advocacy Plan Purpose: This assignment is intended to allow you to show evidence of achievement of: LO 1: Develop a plan to influence the passage of a health-related bill LO 2: Discuss the policy development process at the different levels of government Requirements: Introduction: Now that you have researched your chosen health policy topic and have taken initial steps into the legislative process, it is time to update your advocacy plan. Using the information you have obtained from the assigned reading and your additional research, provide a more detailed description of your chosen health policy and it’s progress within the policy development process. Instructions: For your initial discussion post include the following: • Provide background information on your chosen health policy topic • Provide the legislative history of your health policy. o Where is it in the policy development process? o What are the next legislative steps? What is your personal plan for advocating for your chosen health policy? Compare and contrast the development and process of your chosen health policy if it were progressing through different levels of government (i.e. state vs. federal). o • • 1 Mental Health Policy Advocacy Plan Name Institution Course Instructor Date 2 Mental Health Policy Advocacy Plan Mental health is a severe health problem that continues to affect many people, both young and adults. Several statistics fortify this assertion. For example, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (2021) concede that 1 in every person has mental illness annually. Conversely, 75 percent of mental illness begins at the age of 24. According to Rtor.org (2021), Maryland State estimates that 3.3 percent of its population suffers from mental illness. More appalling is that mental illness has dire consequences, such as leading people to commit suicide. Although there has been a raft of measures to alleviate the mental health menace in the United States, the problem persists with startling statistics. The menace of mental illness in Maryland State can be effectively addressed by developing a mental health policy that balances the needs of healthcare providers and mentally ill patients. Background Information about Mental Health Policy Mental health policy has a rich history in the United States. The story commences with the dissolution consensus of treating people with mental disorders in public hospitals in 1945 to believing in having community care and treatment that will handle matters affecting mentally challenged individuals (Grob, 2016). This belief morphed into the crusade about having community mental health centers act of 1963 (CMHCAs), although the process was tedious and daunting. This policy focused on offering federal funding to community-based mental health facilities to ensure people with a mental health condition receive quality care. Noteworthy, other government mitigations, such as social welfare, have played an essential role in improving the well-being of patients suffering from mental disorders (Unite for Sight, 2021). The mental health fraternity has recently grappled with enactments such as the mental health parity and addiction equity act of 2008 (MHPAEA). This legislation ensures that 3 patients suffering from mental disorders benefit from insurance issuers and group health plans (CMS.gov, n.p.). As new perspectives are being drawn regarding mental illness, so does the enactment of new policies. In the future, mental health policy will be enacted to ensure that mentally challenged patients receive quality care. Most importantly, the policy is the development process where information about mental illness will be easily accessible, which will reduce cases of menace. Perhaps in the future, society will be free from any claims of mental illness. The policy is believed to be in the earlier mentioned development process. The most focus has been shifted to making the treatment as affordable as possible and creating awareness about the illness. Future legislative steps ensure that patients who have mental illness are given the attention they need, mainly focusing on creating as considerable awareness about the illness as possible. Personal Plan for Advocating Healthy Policy Developing and making health policy requires concerted efforts. From a personal standpoint, an attempt to lobby with Slaw makers, especially Senator Patty Murray, the chairperson of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, will be impactful. Having Senator Murray to further the policy lobby is ideal because she has an influential capability as a lawmaker. Besides, her position comes in handy to convince the health committee about the projected changes in mental illness patients. Comparative Analysis of Development and Process of Mental Health Policy progressing through State vs. Federal Governments Policy formulation is a delicate process that requires keen attention. When developing a policy, the main aspects include informing, educating, and empowering people regarding their health. Conversely, there is an element of mobilization to ensure the proposed policy solves the 4 present problem. Both state and federal governments scrutinize proposed policies to ensure that the policy is detailed and easy to implement (Heikkila & Cairney, 2018). On the contrary, state and federal governments differ in the process of developing policy as each has unique laws governing the process of drafting and enacting a law. For instance, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) policies formulation and implementation differ from federal policies. MDH policies and procedures must be accompanied by a signature of approval for the policy to be valid. Noteworthy, it is a requirement for MDH policies to be written in simple English and must only comprise little and vital technical, legal, or medical terminologies. MDH policies are formatted comprising of five main components: an executive summary, background, policy statements, references, and addenda, exhibits, and attachments (Maryland.gov, n.d.). On the contrary, federal governments recheck the contents of the state proposals and conduct a costbenefit analysis alongside several meetings with different stakeholders before enacting a policy. From a process standpoint, policies in states can be promulgated for ongoing issues of significant importance to the department, unlike federal guidelines that require a policy to be people-centric (Heikkila & Cairney, 2018). In-State such as Maryland, policy initiators work cooperatively with MDH P &P administrators to prepare and update policies to guarantee timely processing, unlike in federal governments where policy initiators must collaborate with lawmakers to adopt the policy. References 5 CMS.gov. (n.d.). The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Act (MHPAEA). https://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Programs-and-Initiatives/Other-InsuranceProtections/mhpaea_factsheet Grob, G. N. (2016). Community mental health policy in America: lessons learned. Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci, 53(1). Heikkila, T., & Cairney, P. (2018). Comparison of theories of the policy process. In Theories of the policy process (pp. 301-327). Routledge. Maryland.gov. (n.d.). MDH Policies- Summary of Policy Implementation Guidelines https://health.maryland.gov/Pages/guidesum.aspx National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2021). Mental Health by the Numbers. https://www.nami.org/mhstats Rtor.org. (2021). Mental Health Resources in Maryland. https://www.rtor.org/directory/mentalhealth-maryland/ Unite for Sight. (2021). Module 2: A Brief History of Mental Illness and the U.S. Mental Health Care System. https://www.uniteforsight.org/mental-health/module2 LEGISLATIVE VISIT 1 Legislative Visit Rita Dexter South College NSG6410 Dr. Douglas Turner LEGISLATIVE VISIT 2 Legislative Visit The Legislative proceeding, I followed was on healthcare workforce, where Dr. David Skorton reveals the projected high shortage of physicians in the years to come. The legislative committee was held on May 20, 2021, and shed light on the plight of the patients in case the issue of nurse and physician shortages persists (C-Span Organization, 2021). The president estimated that the country would exhibit a shortage of at least 139,000 physicians by 2033. It is a saddening projection considering that the current healthcare sector is already overstretched and lacks adequate number of healthcare workers. Senator Bernie Sanders, the chair of the subcommittee on retirement, chaired the legislative committee. Although Senator Sanders touches on many aspects affecting the healthcare sector in the US such as high cost of treatment, high cost of medication, underinsurance, and non-insurance, he majorly focusses on the shortage of healthcare workers (C-Span Organization, 2021). Senator Sanders highlights the poor treatment and handling of healthcare workers, which could be leading to low numbers of enrolment rates and class numbers in healthcare training institutions. The Senator highlights low payment to physicians and nurses, discriminatory payment system for the different healthcare worker categories, and lack of support and funding in training and teaching healthcare workers. Senator Susan Collins adds that the issue had been largely brought about by the low intake of students in search of medical training, lack of diversity in recruitment of healthcare students, low number of enrolment institutions, and low number of practicing sites (C-Span Organization, 2021). On her part, Shelley Spires, the CEO of Albany primary healthcare indicates the need to fund and support LEGISLATIVE VISIT 3 students aspiring to be medical practitioners from vulnerable and marginalized communities. There are evidently few clinicians from the marginalized and minority groups, which causes a healthcare gap. James Herbert, the President of New England also offered his testimony on the issue and indicated five core strategies that could be used to overcome shortages of healthcare professionals. He outlines the need for collaboration between all the stakeholders and leaders in affiliated with the issue including universities, government, the society, and many others (CSpan Organization, 2021). One root cause of the issue according to Herbert is limited availability of training institutions. There is need to expand existing training institutions so that they can accommodate more learners. There is also a challenge in attracting and retaining qualified faculty members. Teaching institutions have found themselves challenged with low number of faculty members, which has directly affected learning and ability to enroll many students. Herbert also indicated the need to increase diversity in healthcare student enrolment to promote use of healthcare services among minority groups. The use of technology and telemedicine is another important solution brought up by Herbert (C-Span Organization, 2021). Adoption of technology would help to increase healthcare access as well as improve quality. According to Herbert, change needs to happen in the current educational model to one that guarantee quick passage of skills to learners. I think the committee proceeding was very informative and helped me to understand the complexity of the issue of shortage of healthcare workers and the possible solutions to the issue. I think the committee was right that shortage of healthcare workers is a dangerous issue in healthcare considering the increasing number of patients in need of critical care, hospice care, and homecare services. It also came out clearly that the issue of shortages in healthcare workers LEGISLATIVE VISIT 4 is majorly a systemic problem, where training institutions, healthcare institutions, and agencies involved in the matter do not address nurse issues such as mental health, good pay, inclusivity, diversity, welfare, and funding of learners. This has caused a gap in training of healthcare workers, causing the current and anticipated future clinician shortages. However, there is a lot of hope for the healthcare industry if the highlighted solutions could be adopted and put into practice. Increasing the number of health training institutions, funding leaners from vulnerable and marginalized communities, increasing subsidies to healthcare students, and putting in place mechanisms for retention of clinicians in the working force would help to increase the number of those enrolling in training thus improve the patient-clinician ratio. The best follow-up and relationship building approach to undertake in pushing for implementation of the proposed solutions is to get the emails of Senator Sanders and Senator Collins and use them as a channel for communication and engagement. Maintaining contact with these legislators will give them the push to propose and rally their senate members towards implementing proposed solutions in the healthcare industry. After developing good rapport, I will also engage in visits to the Senators’ offices to convince them on the urgency and criticality of the use of clinician shortages. LEGISLATIVE VISIT 5 References C-Span Organization. (2021, May 20). Health Care Workforce. From C-Span Organization: https://www.c-span.org/video/?511911-1/health-care-workforce
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Policy Action Plan
Name
Institution
Course
Professor
Date

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Health Policy Topic and Advocacy Goal
The proposed policy topic involves increasing public awareness of mental health to
increase access to mental health prevention and treatment services. According to NAMI (2021),
one in five adults and 1 in 6 youths between 6 to 17 years get a mental illness/disease every year.
However, only a half of this population receive mental health treatment. This has led to increased
cases of suicide, mass shootings, homicides, and other vices associated with mental health
instability. The primary goal for mental health awareness advocacy is to ensure easy and
affordable access to mental health care. In this case, enforcing parity and equity in access to
mental healthcare is crucial and will require policy solutions that ensure mental health care
services are integrated into primary care. In addition, the goal is to reduce incidences of suicide
or suicide attempts and protect individuals with mental health problems from harm, including
stigma and associated discrimination. Lastly, the other advocacy goal is to create an
understanding of mental health by advocating for stronger leadership in the mental health sector
at the local, state, and national levels.
Legislative Authority and Rationale for Addressing the Problem
Congress is the legislative authority that is targeted to promote policy change to meet the
identified advocacy goals. In this case, a bill must be taken before Congress for discussion and
voting by the senators and the voting members of the House of Representatives. The policy will
then be adopted when Congress passes the bill/legislation. There are various reasons why the
mental health problem should be addressed. First, addressing the problem will help reduce
morbidity and mortality associated with mental health illnesses. This will give mental health
patients a chance to live meaningful lives since they can easily access the care and support they
need. In addition, changing the mental health policy is expected to eliminate the inequalities in
access to mental health care, including discriminative policies that limit health care access by

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immigrants, ethnic minorities, and refugees; economic barriers, information barriers, and others
(Alegria et al., 2018). Lastly, mental health policy is likely to address the biological, social, and
political factors that influence one's mental health and health-seeking behaviors.
Historic Review, Landmarks, and Outcomes
I...

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