This paper requires a written analysis of a health policy issue that has been recently address within the last 3 years in U.S Congress.
It must a BILL or a LAW. This paper requires that you analyze and synthesize the information regarding the bill or law and additional searching and researching of information specifically related to the bill you have chosen. Your paper should exactly follow the section headings and subheadings as laid out below (Sections 1 through 6).
Abstract should be a synopsis of what is written in your paper corresponding to sections 1 through 6.
1). Introduction
a. Bill # and Title
b. Identify a health care issue for which legislation has currently or recently been proposed or passed in a state legislature or in Congress.
c. Describe how the chosen piece of legislation will specifically affect APN practice.
2). Describe the environment that BROUGHT this issue to the forefront. In this section, you describe what has happened in the past (up to this point) in each respective environment that influenced bringing this issue to the forefront.
a. Sociocultural
b. Ethical
c. Economic,
d. Political AND legislative
3). Passage/progression of the bill: Identify difficulties encountered in the effort to pass the bill and actions taken by sponsors (legislators) and by stakeholders to propel the legislation forward.
a. Include identification of bill sponsors (legislators) who supported and those who opposed the bill and actions they have taken.
b. Include identification of stakeholders who supported and those who opposed the bill and actions they have taken. Stakeholders can be people (whether individuals or specific groups) or institutions such as American Nurses Association, American Medical Association, industries manufacturing health care products or technology, consumers of health care, health care providers, etc.
c. If the legislation has not been passed, discuss pessimistic AND optimistic timelines set to achieve the goals. If passed, discuss the actual timeline.
4). Discuss the actual and/or potential consequences or effects of the bill on health care providers and on consumers. For the purpose of this section, consumers are NOT limited to patients only but also include all other stakeholders who are not providers. When you discuss the effect of your bill on providers, do not assume that the positive or negative effect of the bill on providers is likewise positive or negative on the patient. In each category (i.e. providers or consumers), include BOTH positive AND negative consequences/effects as well as long-term AND short-term consequences/effects. Clearly categorize them in your description.
5). Compare the policy goal addressed by the bill with how the same goal is achieved in another country or state. In your comparison, do not simply list names of multiple states or countries —focus your ANALYSIS on one state or country to discuss in depth as to how those aspects of your bill (discussed in sections 1 through 4) are similar to, or different from, those of another country or state.
6). Suggest two options for refining the measures or programs in the legislation to improve policy outcomes. Cleary state each option and your thoughts/rationale behind each of the two options.
7). Paper should be 10-10.5 pages in length double spaced, one inch margins, not counting title page, abstract page, and references. A minimum of 10 references must be used, including 3 scholarly journal articles. Only primary references are to be used.
