There’s a lot that you can do right now to understand health care reform better and make your opinion count….5. Speak Out

How do I get involved in health care reform?

There’s a lot that you can do right now to understand health care reform better and make your opinion count….5. Speak Out

1. Write or call your elected officials. Let them know what you think about health care reform.
2. Join an advocacy organization.
3. Talk to your family, friends, and co-workers.

What is the primary goal of healthcare reform in the United States?

Healthcare reform will focus on improving quality and affordable care for all Americans. The Department is committed to strengthening consumers’ informed healthcare decision making through cost-quality comparisons and tools to reduce individual and overall costs in healthcare.

What is health care policy in nursing?

Health care is a basic human need. Health policy shapes the entire health care landscape, including both patients and providers. Nurses and nurse practitioners play a direct role in shaping, implementing and assessing the health policies in their communities.

What is the goal of health policy?

While the overall goal of healthcare policy is to achieve quality standards, improve patient safety, and promote healthy outcomes, a growing number of medical professionals fear it has become mired in politics. In many cases, healthcare policy is made with little input from the healthcare community itself.

Who creates health care policy?

In the United States, health policy decisions are made at both the federal level by Congress and by healthcare agencies. Some of the important health policies set by Congress include Medicare policy, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HIPAA and federal funding for healthcare research.

What is the healthcare reform act?

The comprehensive health care reform law enacted in March 2010 (sometimes known as ACA, PPACA, or “Obamacare”). The law has 3 primary goals: The law provides consumers with subsidies (“premium tax credits”) that lower costs for households with incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL).

What is the healthcare professional’s role in policy making?

The work nurses do in influencing policy affects decisions that impact quality of life and universal access to care. Becoming influential in policy work is a process that requires commitment to developing skills and acquiring knowledge about activities that lead to change. It involves making choices.

How can nurses participate in policy review?

Volunteer to participate in policy meetings or related activities. Join your professional nursing organization. Prepare a fact sheet, or assist in preparing a report to inform policy decision-makers. Inform stakeholders of activities that offer opportunities to address policymakers.