Assignment 1: Issues in Health Care Reform (Interview)

According to the AACN (2006), “Political activism and commitment to policy development are central elements of professional nursing practice” (p. 13). Throughout this course, you will hone the skills and competencies required for this type of involvement in policy.

Research is an essential step in the process of acquiring the skills and competencies, and interviews are one form of research that can serve as a valuable source of information. As such, this Assignment (which you will start this week, and submit by the end of Week 9) provides an opportunity for you to identify a health reform issue of interest and discuss the issue with a state or national politician (or their aide).

To prepare for Assignment 1: Issues in Health Care Reform (Interview):

• Identify a state or national politician (state representative or legislator, senator, congressman, governor, etc.), or aide, whom you would like to interview regarding current issues in health care reform.
• As soon as possible, contact the individual’s office to request a meeting. Keep in mind that it may be difficult to get on their calendar, so plan accordingly. You may conduct the interview in person or by phone.
• In advance of the interview, ask yourself:
  • What health care policy issue is important to me personally?
  • What issue do I want to bring to this person’s attention?
• With this in mind, develop your list of questions for the interview around your selected health policy issue. In addition, you may wish to include questions related to health care reform:
  • What are your constituents most concerned about regarding health care reform?
  • What are the trade-offs associated with recent health care reform policy?

By Day 7 of Week 9 of Assignment 1: Issues in Health Care Reform (Interview)

To complete for Assignment 1: Issues in Health Care Reform (Interview):

• Write a 3- to 4-page paper providing a summary and analysis of the interview and the health care reform issues you discussed.

Your written assignments must follow APA guidelines. Be sure to support your work with specific citations from appropriate Learning Resources and additional scholarly sources as appropriate. Refer to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association to ensure that your in-text citations and reference list are correct. Due by Day 7 of Week 9. Assignment 1: Issues in Health Care Reform (Interview)

NURS 8100 Week 2: The Health Care System, Part 2

As addressed in Week 1, many different policies and reform efforts have influenced health care delivery over the past century. Consider for a moment the health care reform efforts during the 1960s and the implementation of Medicare and Medicaid. How did these reform initiatives become policy? What challenges do these programs face today? What problems did they solve, and what new problems have arisen?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) continue to have a strong influence on the health care system and health care policy through financial incentives and reimbursement policies. For example, to improve continuity of care, Medicare is offering financial incentives to health care providers that become accountable care organizations.

This week, you will have an opportunity for an authentic experience as you bring a health care issue of concern to the attention of your state or national politician. You will also consider the unintended consequences that may arise as a result of reform policy, such as the individual mandate.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Analyze key health care reform legislation to determine positive results and potential unintended consequences
• Assess reform-related issues for health care

Photo Credit: [alexaldo]/[iStock / Getty Images Plus]/Getty Images

Learning Resources for Assignment 1: Issues in Health Care Reform (Interview)

Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

Required Readings for Assignment 1: Issues in Health Care Reform (Interview)

Bodenheimer, T., & Grumbach, K. (2016). Understanding health policy: A clinical approach (7th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Medical.

• Chapter 5, “How Health Care is Organized – I: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Care”
• Chapter 6, “How Health Care is Organized – II: Health Delivery Systems”

McClellan, M. (2010). Accountable care organizations in the era of health care reform. American Health & Drug Benefits, 3(4), 242–244.

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

The PPACA of 2010 encourages the formation of accountable care organizations (ACOs) to improve the quality and efficiency of health care delivery. An ACO is a group of health care providers who coordinate care for their Medicare patients and share the financial incentives of health care improvement gains.

Moore, K. D., & Coddington, D. C. (2010). Accountable care: The journey begins. Health Care Financial Management, 64(8), 57–63.

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

This article provides information on the importance of health care provider organizations taking steps to become accountable care organizations (ACOs) and provides examples of systems that have historically functioned in this capacity. The authors also provide steps for developing and transitioning to an ACO structure.

Institute of Medicine. (2010). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. Retrieved from http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/Reports/2010/The-Future-of-Nursing-Leading-Change-Advancing-Health.aspx

This report discusses how nurses can and should play a fundamental role in meeting the challenges of increased demand for health care brought about by the implementation of the 2010 Affordable Care Act. In addition, it stresses the need for nurses to be partners with other health professionals and assume leadership roles in redesigning health care in the United States.

Institute of Medicine. (2010). Report brief: The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. Retrieved from http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2010/The-Future-of-Nursing/Future%20of%20Nursing%202010%20Recommendations.pdf

This report brief highlights the four key recommendations from the Robert Wood Johnson and Institute of Medicine The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health report. The recommendations focus on nursing practice, education and training, partnerships with other healthcare professionals, and workforce planning and policymaking.

HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). Understanding the Affordable Care Act. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/rights/index.html

This website introduces the Affordable Care Act and presents the timeline for implementation of the various provisions of the Act.

HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). Understanding the Affordable Care Act: About the law. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/rights/law/index.html

Read the full Affordable Care Act law at this website. An overview of the law is also provided along with an outline of how the Affordable Care Act helps reduce health insurance costs.

Required Media for Assignment 1: Issues in Health Care Reform (Interview)

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Healthcare policy and advocacy: Reforming health care delivery: Accountable care organizations. Baltimore: Author.

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 7 minutes.

In this media presentation, Dr. Kathleen White explains the structure of accountable care organizations (ACO) and discusses the benefits and challenges of becoming an ACO.

Optional Resources for Assignment 1: Issues in Health Care Reform (Interview)

APRN Joint Dialogue Group Report. (2008). Consensus model for APRN regulation: Licensure, accreditation, certification & education. Retrieved from https://www.aacnnursing.org/Education-Resources/APRN-Education/APRN-Consensus-Model

Fisher, E. S., & Shortell, S. M. (2010). Accountable care organizations: Accountable for what, to whom, and how. JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association, 304(15), 1715–1716.

Fisher, E. S., Staiger, D. O., Bynum, J. W., & Gottlieb, D. J. (2007). Creating accountable care organizations: The extended hospital medical staff. JHealth Affairs, 26, w44-w57. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.26.1.w44–57

McClellan, M., McKethan, A. N., Lewis, J. L., Roski, J., & Fisher, E. S. (2010). A national strategy to put accountable care into practice. Health Affairs, 29(5), 982–990.

Kaiser Health News. (2011). Accountable care organization proposed regulations: Resources. Kaiser Family Foundation. Retrieved from http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2011/March/31/ACO-Documents-In-The-News.aspx