nurs 6050 Advocacy Statement

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 Comparison Grid; 1-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement) Part 1: Legislation Comparison Grid Based on the health-related bill (proposed, not enacted) you selected, complete the Legislation Comparison 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.nurs 6050 Advocacy Statement

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Legislation Comparison Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement

Part 1. Legislative Comparison Grid

Health-related Bill name Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act
Bill Number H.R. 987
Description The bill was introduced into the 116th Congress on 6th February, 2019. It was sponsored by Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, the representative for Delaware At Large. The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to provide federal exchange education and outreach activities. Enacting the bill would empower the US Department of Health and Human Services to conduct education and outreach services that inform the public about the availability of health insurance coverage and related financial assistance. In addition, the services would be offered in linguistically and culturally appropriate formats (GovTrack, 2020).
Federal or State? Federal
Legislative intent The bill seeks to improve health care access by informing the public about services that would be useful to them and offering them financial assistance to help them pay for health care to include drug costs (Congress.Gov, 2020).
Proponents/Opponents Proponents: Americans who are eligible for the health insurance coverage and financial assistance, but are unaware of the availability of these services (potential enrollees).

Nurses and other medical personnel who seek to improve health care access.
Opponents: The bill has opposition from the government owing to its cost implications. The outreach and education services and financial assistance are costly.
Target population The bill is targeted at the potential enrollees who are unaware of the availability of health insurance coverage and related financial assistance.
Status of the bill (is it in hearings or committees? Is it receiving press coverage?) The bill was passed by a vote in the House and will be moving to the Senate next. The bill is not receiving much press coverage as public attention has shifted towards the coming presidential elections and health concerns about the Covid-19 epidemic.nurs 6050 Advocacy Statement
General notes/comments The bill seeks to improve health care access by leveraging federal resources to inform the public about the coverage and financial assistance available to them. However, the lack of action on the bill since it was passed in the House on 16th May 2019 is a course of concern and an indication that the bill is likely to be discarded. This would be unfavorable for the proponents of the bill.

Part 2. Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement

The bill seeks to leverage federal resources to improve health care access in the USA. This would occur in three ways. Firstly, informing potential enrollees about the available insurance services for which they are eligible. Secondly, offering financial assistance that reduces the health care services cost burden. Thirdly, reducing the cost of prescription drugs so that Americans spend less on health care. It is disconcerting that the utilization of health insurance services is not as high as would be expected in the USA. Potential enrollees are unaware of some of the coverage services available to them and this keeps the utilization of these services low (Butts & Rich, 2018). Through using federal resources to inform them about these services, the public awareness would increase with corresponding increase in the use of these services thereby improving health care access. In addition, the financial assistance would east the cost burden on Americans by helping them to address the financial burden of health care. Besides that, it would reduce the cost of prescription drugs so that Americans pay less for health care (Zaccagnini & White, 2017).

Opponents of the bill would argue that it increases the government spending on health care. It is true that it would increase government spending through the financial assistance and public information systems. However, it addresses an existing gap. Services are available for improving health care access, but potential users are not aware of their availability. This has resulted in low utilization. This gap can only be addressed through informing the public about the available services (Zaccagnini & White, 2017). nurs 6050 Advocacy Statement

References

Butts, J. B., & Rich, K. L. (Eds.) (2018). Philosophies and Theories for Advanced Nursing Practice (3rd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC.

Congress.Gov (2020). H.R.987 – Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act. https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/987

GovTrack (2020). H.R. 987: Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr987

Zacccagnini, M. E., & White, K. W. (Eds.) (2017). The Doctor of Nursing Practice Essentials: A New Model for Advanced Practice Nursing (3rd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning, LLC.

nurs 6050 Advocacy Statement