Complete the Health Policy and Perspectives grid

The Policy Process: Part I - PPACA
Running head: THE POLICY PROCESS: PART I - HEALTH CARE REFORM 1
The Policy Process: Part I - Health Care Reform
HCS455
April 4, 2013
The Policy Process: Part I - Health Care Reform 2
The Policy Process: Part I - Health Care Reform
At the end of 2009, 9.9% of the country's workers above the age of 16 reflect as
unemployed (United States Department of Labor, 2013). More than 46 million Americans have
no health insurance coverage in 2009, and 21% of working Americans receive no benefits
because either they cannot afford the coverage or companies have stopped offering insurance.
Additionally, 6.1 million children lacked insurance coverage in 2009 (Reinberg, 2010, para.
2,9,11). Healthcare.gov (2013) estimates 25 million Americans possess no insurance because of
pre-existing conditions that prevent approval of or affordability of coverage. Seniors' concerns
increase over prescription costs and many debate over which medicines not to take, or possibly
reduce medications to extend the dosages. These situations represent America's economic need
for improvement in the health care forum and the introduction of the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act (PPACA), also known as Health Care Reform. However, before the
country could experience the benefits of this policy, it first needed to go through the formal
legislative process.
FORMULATION
Public opinion and demand as well as national needs set the stage for formulation of
health care policies. Morone, Litman, and Robins (2008) discuss how public opinion influences
governmental actions such as Congressional and executive decision-making, Supreme Court
rulings and new policy changes. A new bill or legislation may begin with an increase of
American concern regarding the health care industry. Any of the above situations individually or
combined engages regular media attention, therefore the information is relayed to the public.
People speak among themselves and as a public voice to their governmental representatives
demanding action.
The Policy Process: Part I - Health Care Reform 3
Americans have many concerns, including stability of coverage, access to coverage and
affordability. The public needs a speaker, someone in a position to enable change and initiate a
proposal that becomes escalated to a political agenda. Each person or group wants their needs
heard, but not all issues gain sufficient national attention or possess enough political clout to
reach agenda status. Special interest groups, such as the American Medical Association (AMA)
or the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) may play a role at this point speaking
for the certain groups and pushing issues to politicians and lobbyists. Because not all issues reach
the government, organization, planning, and the proper support may assist in the agenda setting
stage of a new legislation.
The parties involved need to exchange information and begin a planning stage of the
agenda. Groups of interest should establish the purpose and goals of an agenda as well as
strategize short and long-term goals. Government officials can debate only so many topics, but a
successful agenda with a national purpose and supporting evidence may survive this phase. After
all, the purpose of a strong agenda is placement before a legislative or executive...