Health Policy Paper: Identifying a Significant Problem Facing Healthcare Industry

Researching Policies

Part 1: Health Policy Paper (Due by Day 5 and submitted to Assignments)
1.    You are to identify a problem or issue that is facing the healthcare industry.This problem should be significant and urgent, and one that has not yet been solved or addressed.  Examples include:
?    Opioid crisis
?    Healthcare disparities (select one of interest to you)
?    Information Governance
?    Childhood obesity
?    EHR Interoperability
?    Cybersecurity
?    Pricing Transparency
?    Other areas of student interest as approved by the instructor.

 

2.    Research two policies that might have addressed the problem.These policies can be found at the federal, state, or local level or via government agencies.  They could also be found on professional association webpages.  Make sure that the policy is pertinent to the topic and that it contains enough information to successfully complete the assignment. Provide the links to the policies.

 

3.    Examine the two (2) policies in the following areas.  While you do not have to answer these specifically, you will need to consider these when writing your policy brief.  This will become the basis for writing your policy brief.  
?    Are the policies you found feasible?
?    What are the goals and/or metrics of the policies?  In other words—how will success be measured?
?    What are some of the constraints to advancing the policies?  Look at it from the following perspectives in the current environment:
?    Political
?    Economic
?    Social

 

4.    Based on the information you found, create a new or revised policy that will address the issue.  You will be writing a policy brief based on your proposal using the information from step #2 above. Your proposed policy brief should contain the following (keep these headings as part of your paper):

A.    Statement of the Issue/Problem
?    A brief (2-4 sentences) statement describing the issue.  In other words, what is the problem that your policy addresses?

B.    Background and Information Related to the Issue/Problem
?    Provide background and context for the problem.  What is its significance to the healthcare industry?  Provide support from the literature (academic and/or scholarly works)
?    Why does something need to be done?
?    Current debate around the issue
?    Current data related to the issue
?    Current laws that may need to be changed

C.    Responses and Policy Options
?    What has been proposed to date? (This is where, at a minimum, you would bring in your two policies from above.)
?    What is the position of affected professional associations?  For example, if you selected “Prior Authorization” for your topic, what is the AMA’s position vs.  the health insurance industry?

 

D.    Recommendations
?    What is your policy recommendation?  
?    Who are the players that should be involved?  (i.e at the federal, state, or local level; government agencies; healthcare leaders; or at the professional level)
?    What should they do?

This paper should be a minimum of 4 pages, but no more than 7 pages.  I will be sticking to this page requirement.

 

Part 2: PowerPoint Presentation (due by Day 5 in Week 6 Discussion Board)
5.    Using Kaltura (see below for instructions), create a narrated Powerpoint presentation that outlines your policy brief. You must be very concise in your presentation.  Assume you have been given 5-7 minutes to present your policy.  I will be sticking to this time limitation. You can be creative, yet professional, in your presentation. Use visual pictures or graphs to get your point across. Provide the script for the presentation. There should be at least 8-10 slides, not including title or reference/question slide (no more than that).  Upload your narrated powerpoint to the discussion board.  Access 10 PowerPoint Tips for Preparing a Professional Presentation for some tips on creating a presentation.