NURS 6050 Assignment Legislation Grid and Testimony Advocacy Statement
Sample Legislation Grid Template
Use this document to complete Part 1 of the PA002 Assessment, Legislation Grid, and Testimony/Advocacy Statement. A minimum of 2 resources should be utilized and adequately cited.
| Health-related Bill Name/Bill # | Public Health Infrastructure Saves Lives Act of 2021(PHISLA) Bill number S. 674 |
| Description | The Public Health Infrastructure Saves Lives Act (PHISLA) of 2021 provides annual funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to strengthen core public health infrastructure. Senator Patty Murray, the US Senate health, education, labor, and pension committee chair, reintroduced PHISLA to the Senate on 3 October 2021 following the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the US healthcare system. The Bill focuses on various components, including: Public health assessmentPreparedness and response Community partnership developmentOrganizational competenciesAccountabilityEquity |
| Federal or State? | The Bill is federal because it seeks to ensure that the CDC can support State and local healthcare providers to enhance public health infrastructure. |
| Legislative Intent | This legislation seeks to strengthen core public health infrastructure by providing annual findings for the CDC to Improve core elements of the US healthcare system, including public health assessment, preparedness and response, community partnership development, organizational competencies, accountability, and equity (Cogress.gov, 2021). The Bill proposes grants to each State or territorial health department and local health departments serving 500000 people or more. Apart from providing grants, PHISLA proposes funding for the CDC starting at $750 million for the 2022 financial year up to $4.5 billion for FY 2026 and beyond. |
| Proponents/Opponents | The Bill is sponsored by Senator Patty Murray and supported by over 120 organizations, including the American Academy of Nursing, the American Lung Association, and the American Health Information Management Association. Although the Bill does not currently have opponents for its implementation, it is vital to anticipate some opposition from organizations and policymakers who would associate the Bill with a higher economic burden to the country. For instance, the US healthcare spending surpassed $10000 Per Capita, extending to almost twice the OECD countries’ average expenditures for heath (Milstead & Smart, 2019). Despite the increased health expenditures, unconvincing results would subject the PHISLA bill to the opposition. |
| Target Population | The Bill targets healthcare organizations and vital infrastructure for promoting public health and addressing disparities among at-risk populations, including children, low-income families, unemployed Americans, and uninsured people. |
| Status of the Bill (Is it in hearings or committees? Is it receiving press coverage?) | The Senate read the PHISLA bill twice in 2020 before referring it to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Therefore, the Senate is yet to pass the legislation. |
| General Notes/Comments | If the PHISLA bill becomes a law, it will enhance CDC’s capacity to strengthen public health assessment and strengthen preparedness and response to healthcare concerns. Also, the Bill focuses on bolstering organizational capabilities to align resources towards advancing community health. Finally, PHISLA focuses on enabling health organizations and departments to address disparities related to race, national origin, ethnicity, disability status, sex, and other factors. As a result, passing such a bill would lead to massive healthcare improvements necessary to prevent disease prevalence, address healthcare inequalities, and strengthen organizational competencies. |
NURS 6050 Assignment Legislation Grid and Testimony Advocacy Statement References
Congress.gov. (2021). S.674 – Public Health Infrastructure Saves Lives Act. Retrieved 18 October 2021, from https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/674. Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning
Assignment: Legislation Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement
As a nurse, how often have you thought to yourself, If I had anything to do about it, things would work a little differently? Increasingly, nurses are beginning to realize that they do, in fact, have a role and a voice.
Many nurses encounter daily experiences that motivate them to take on an advocacy role in hopes of impacting policies, laws, or regulations that impact healthcare issues of interest. Of course, doing so means entering the less familiar world of policy and politics. While many nurses do not initially feel prepared to operate in this space effectively, the reward is the opportunity to shape and influence future health policy.
To Prepare:
- Select a bill that has been proposed (not one that has been enacted) using the congressional websites provided in the Learning Resources.
The Assignment: (1- to 2-page Legislation Grid; 1-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement)
Be sure to add a title page, an introduction, purpose statement, and a conclusion. This is an APA paper.
Part 1: Legislation Grid
Based on the health-related bill (proposed, not enacted) you selected, complete the Legislation Grid Template. Be sure to address the following:
- Determine the legislative intent of the bill you have reviewed.
- Identify the proponents/opponents of the bill.
- Identify the target populations addressed by the bill.
- Where in the process is the bill currently? Is it in hearings or committees?
Part 2: Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement
Based on the health-related bill you selected, develop a 1-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement that addresses the following:
- Advocate a position for the bill you selected and write testimony in support of your position.
- Describe how you would address the opponent to your position. Be specific and provide examples.
At least 2 outside resources and 2-3 course specific resources are used
NURS 6050 Assignment Legislation Grid and Testimony Advocacy Statement – Legislation Grid Template Example 2
The healthcare system is intricate and fraught with problems; several proposals are in the works to address these challenges. Hundreds of bills have been proposed at the federal and state levels. Most People rank healthcare as their top economic concern, highlighting the urgent need for accessible, affordable healthcare options (Singer et al., 2019). As part of the Health Care Affordability Act of 2019, it is suggested that the patient be provided with comprehensive cost information and other relevant financial data.
Many have been unable to afford their medical bills due to the astronomical costs involved since accurate pricing information on medications has not been easily accessible prior to treatment (Keehan et al., 2020). The law also mandates that all parties involved in a healthcare transaction, including the healthcare provider, the patient, and any insurance companies, should all collaborate to ensure the delivery of quality care.
| Health-related Bill Name | Health Care Affordability Act of 2019 |
| Bill Number | H.R. 1868 |
| Description | The Health Care Affordability Act of 2019, or House Resolution 1868 (H.R. 1868), was introduced during the 116th Congress (2019-2020) in the United States of America with the goal of helping people get access to high-quality healthcare at a price they can afford. It does this by modifying the tax credit for low-income earners and cutting healthcare costs. |
| Federal or State? | Federal |
| Legislative Intent | House Resolution 1868’s Section 2 states that the law was created to help low-income taxpayers whose family income falls within a certain range obtain health insurance at an affordable price (Galvani et al., 2020). It suggests changing the current tax code from 1986. The Illinois representative Lauren Underwood presented H.R. 1868 with the support of 39 other representatives. |
| Proponents/ Opponents | Proponents:Representative Underwood, Lauren |
| Opponents:Government. | |
| Target Population | The bill aims to ensure that all Americans, including those from low-income families, have access to high-quality healthcare at a price they can afford (Martin et al., 2021). The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 34 million Americans were poor in 2019. This subset of the U.S. population is highlighted by these numbers and represents the primary focus of the legislation. |
| Status of the bill (Is it in hearings or committees?) | The Ways and Means Committee in the House of Representatives is now responsible for considering the legislation; the sponsors must decide what steps to take next. |
| General Notes/Comments | The patient should be provided with full-cost data and other relevant financial information, as proposed in the bill. Guaranteeing universal access to affordable, high-quality healthcare requires the passage of laws aimed at addressing current barriers to providing it (Galvani et al., 2020). However, after these regulations are approved, it is crucial to ensure they are strictly adhered to and fully executed. Every person has the freedom to choose their own healthcare practitioner and their own treatment plan, regardless of how much it may cost. Nonetheless, it is essential to ensure that patients keep getting quality care. Unfortunately, the issues plaguing the United States healthcare system cannot be resolved by simply establishing price structures. Healthcare is a fundamental element of social security. Affordable, high-quality healthcare for all people is a human right. The astronomical price of medical care is one of the biggest problems facing the healthcare industry today. The bill suggests setting payment rates, particularly for persons not covered by insurance, to solve the issue of excessively high medical costs (Vanness et al., 2021). The purpose of the legislation is to give people more information so they may make educated decisions when choosing a healthcare provider and plan. Healthcare providers have been accused of increasing patient costs by simply informing them of other, often more expensive, treatment choices. Most people do not realize there are cheaper therapeutic options available to them. |
PART 2: LEGISLATION TESTIMONY/ADVOCACY STATEMENT
I advocate for this healthcare bill for many reasons. As someone planning a career in healthcare, I believe that everyone should have access to high-quality medical care, regardless of their financial situation. I am confident this legislation will go a long way toward supporting the global community in realizing Sustainable Development Goal no. Three as set forth by the United Nations. At its core, nursing is about developing caring relationships with patients. Its primary purpose is to guarantee access to medical care for all people. I will be delighted if this law can make it through the House and Senate.
Policymakers in this country should make the provision of compassionate care, leadership, and service their top priority. The well-being and ease of the American people must take precedence over anything else. Maybe other things will emerge in their place. Opponents of this bill need to understand that health, comfort, and safety cannot be sacrificed in the name of economics (Butkus et al., 2020). I appreciate the lawmakers’ initiative in seeking out this kind of legislation, which will undoubtedly solve the difficulties of more than 34 million Americans.
To ensure everyone has access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, more bills seeking to do so should be introduced to Congress. It is also important to suggest amendments to current laws and resolutions if this would give a voice to the country’s underprivileged people. Finally, this measure is a call to action for our nation’s policymakers to consider, embrace, and pass it so that current and future generations of Americans can benefit.
Conclusion
The proposed Health Care Affordability Act of 2019 bill aims to ensure that all citizens in America have access to quality care regardless of their financial status. The bill aims at regulating taxes in the nation to ensure low-income earners are favored regarding healthcare. Providing quality care is fundamental to all people, which will help the nation achieve the sustainable development goals laid down by United Nations. I highly advocate for this bill in my nursing profession because I would be happy to see my patients receive quality patient care despite their financial status. The implementation of such beneficial bills in healthcare should be prioritized to ensure the delivery of quality and patient care.
NURS 6050 Assignment Legislation Grid and Testimony Advocacy Statement References
Butkus, R., Rapp, K., Cooney, T. G., Engel, L. S., & Health and Public Policy Committee of the American College of Physicians*. (2020). Envisioning a better U.S. health care system for all: reducing barriers to care and addressing social determinants of health. Annals of Internal Medicine, 172(2_Supplement), S50-S59. https://doi.org/10.7326/M19-2410
Galvani, A. P., Parpia, A. S., Foster, E. M., Singer, B. H., & Fitzpatrick, M. C. (2020). Improving the prognosis of health care in the USA. The Lancet, 395(10223), 524-533. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)33019-3
Keehan, S. P., Cuckler, G. A., Poisal, J. A., Sisko, A. M., Smith, S. D., Madison, A. J., … & Hardesty, J. C. (2020). National Health Expenditure Projections, 2019–28: Expected Rebound In Prices Drives Rising Spending Growth: National health expenditure projections for the period 2019–2028. Health Affairs, 39(4), 704–714. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00094
Martin, A. B., Hartman, M., Lassman, D., Catlin, A., & National Health Expenditure Accounts Team. (2021). National Health Care Spending in 2019: Steady Growth for the Fourth Consecutive Year: Study Examines National Health Care Spending for 2019. Health Affairs, 40(1), 14–24. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.02022
Singer, A. J., Thode, H. C., & Pines, J. M. (2019). U.S. emergency department visits and hospital discharges among uninsured patients before and after implementation of the affordable care act. JAMA Network Open, 2(4), e192662-e192662. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.2662
Vanness, D. J., Lomas, J., & Ahn, H. (2021). A health opportunity cost threshold for cost-effectiveness analysis in the United States. Annals of Internal Medicine, 174(1), 25-32. https://doi.org/10.7326/M20-1392
