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Developing a Health Advocacy Campaign

Contents

Developing a Health Advocacy Campaign. 2

Part 1: Access to Healthcare Services. 3

Literature Reviews on Effective Advocacy Campaigns. 4

Part 2: Policy Proposal 7

How Existing Laws Affect Advocacy Efforts. 8

Influencing Legislators and Policy-makers. 9

The Three Legs of Lobbying. 9

Anticipated Obstacles in Legislative Process and How to Overcome Them.. 10

Part 3: Ethical Dilemmas. 11

Ethics and Lobbying Laws Applicable to the Advocacy Campaign. 12

Special Ethical Challenges Unique to the Uninsured Population. 12

Summary and Conclusion. 13

References. 13

Developing a Health Advocacy Campaign

            Nursing advocacy and patient right protection has been engrossed as one of the most fundamental principles of nursing. Furthermore, nursing advocacy became the core principle that govern nursing practice in the United States since it was documented by the American Nurses Association (ANA) as provision three in its code of ethics for nursing practice (ANA, 2008). This paper seeks to elaborate effective ways of developing a successful health advocacy campaign for nurses by illustrating my own proposal and policy of patient protection. The paper, which is made up of three sections, develops a theme in patient protection by discussing the impact of certain patient paucities and elaborating ways in which I could advocate for a proposal against the paucity to become law. Lastly, the paper illustrates ethical dilemmas that could arise during the advocacy and illustrate ways of resolving the same.

Part 1: Access to Healthcare Services

            In order to prevent and manage diseases, as well as promote positive health outcomes, it is imperative for patients to have unlimited access to healthcare services. Access to healthcare services, according to Gulliford and Morgan (2013), is the ability to both obtain and use healthcare services and quality treatment in order to obtain the best medical and health outcome. Furthermore, recent research has documented that health insurance is the best way for patients and individuals to fully access timely healthcare services (Knickman & Kovner, 2015). Therefore, this section of the paper illustrates the impact of poor healthcare services among several uninsured individuals in the US. Furthermore, this section illustrates a literature review of two advocacy campaigns that address the same issue, the attributes that made the campaigns effective, as well as a health advocacy campaign plan which develops a new policy regarding the problem and population in question.

            Access to healthcare services, especially among the uninsured individuals, is one of the most significant problems of the state. According to a recent research, by mid-2016, around 27 million individuals were uncovered by health insurance (Garfield et al., 2016). With the same rate, this adds up to around 38 million of the current US population with inadequate healthcare insurance coverage, which in turn, makes it difficult for them to access healthcare services. Furthermore, the huge number of the uninsured individuals has a large percentage of Americans with non-Americans making up less than 20 percent (Gulliford & Morgan, 2013). The main factors that hinder various individuals from obtaining coverage include unemployment, poor income, ignorance, lack of coverage by Medicaid and Medicare among many others (Garfield et al., 2016). Besides, and more significantly, other people work in jobs that either fail to cover them – as required by the law – or do not offer coverage.

            Lack of coverage poses a great threat to the overall health and well-being of the uninsured population. This is majorly because, more often than not, health insurance covers the quality of healthcare, hence of the outcome of patient care. Furthermore, the same influences the urgency to which they are serviced as well as the location to which they receive healthcare services (Gulliford & Morgan, 2013). Research shows that people without medical insurance coverage tend to receive poor quality of healthcare and generally have the worst healthcare outcome compared to their insured counterparts. What is more, patients without insurance have the tendency to forego treatment, which is dangerous and sometimes fatal. As a result of the same, the life expectancy of the population that is uninsured is far much less than that of the individuals that are insured (Gulliford & Morgan, 2013). Also, majority of such individuals die to poor healthcare services or lack of the same.

Literature Reviews on Effective Advocacy Campaigns

First Review

            It is prudent for nurse as well as public agencies to partner with other entities in order to identify the health needs of the uninsured population and address them appropriately (Derose, Gresenz & Ringel, 2011). As the authors elaborate, in their partnering with organizations such as community health centers, local care providers help public health agencies to be in a better position to map available healthcare resources as well as identify the number of uninsured individuals, making it a lot easier to handle such cases (Derose et al., 2010). Furthermore, public health agencies can utilize the epidemiological data of the uninsured population to resolve some of the issues related to access to care. In addition, as stipulated by the ANA code of ethics provision eight, it helps promote health diplomacy and reduce health disparities (ANA, 2008).

Second Review

            Moreover, in one of the greatest studies by Chua (2015), Strategies to Increase Access to Healthcare, he recommends that the government ought to adopt a single player system where either the government or a quasi-public system pays for healthcare. Despite this, healthcare delivery largely depends and remains in the hands of the private sector (Gulliford & Morgan, 2013). In this situation, (Chua, 2015) suggests that the single player system should replace the current one where both the federal government together with other private sectors finance the medical expenses of the population. This, according to the author, would minimize health disparities and help achieve universal care since everyone will be able to access quality healthcare regardless of their status quo or race. Furthermore, the system will be advantageous in minimizing the economic burden that comes about due to the current system. This system will also see the government regulating and monitoring the quality of care through standards set by the federal government.

Analysis of the Reviews

            There are two attributes that makes the two discussed advocacy campaigns more effective as highlighted in the text. For instance, in the first article by Derose et al. (2010), the advocacy campaign focuses on partnering with community health centers and local health providers to identify the health needs of the uninsured population and identify existing gaps in the healthcare system regarding access to care issues. This approach will make it easier for the public health agencies to pinpoint the root cause of the problem and efficient ways to address it based on evidence from the epidemiologic data of the uninsured persons. Similarly, in the second article, the campaign emphasizes adopting a single payer system where the government will finance healthcare, thus making it possible for everyone to access quality care services (Chua, 2015). Both approaches are effective because they address access to care problem.

            Access to healthcare among the uninsured can be resolved by ensuring a universal health coverage. This system will be effective in providing patients with equal opportunities to access and enjoy quality healthcare services regardless of their background and income status (Derose et al., 2011). Therefore, the system will provide equal and continuous healthcare access to all citizens thus providing both coverage and financial protection to the uninsured population. In the case, the primary objective of the policy will be to minimize health disparities and promote high-quality care for all persons (Chua, 2015). This policy has been adopted in other developed countries like Australia and Canada and has been effective in enhancing the quality of life and health outcomes of their population. The policy should, therefore, be advocated through education campaigns and epidemiologic data that will be used to educate and convince the government and other public health agency of its relevance.

            In conclusion, it has been noted that access to healthcare is currently a major problem among the uninsured population in the US. Majority of the individuals in this group are often unable to obtain timely and quality treatment due to lack of coverage. As a result, most of them have poor health outcomes and their life expectancy is lower than that of their counterparts with coverage. In this case, the problem can be resolved by adopting a universal healthcare system whereby the government will finance the medical expenses of its citizens thus giving everyone an opportunity to access quality care regardless of their income status. The following healthcare system is promising because it has been efficient in minimizing health disparities and improving the health outcomes of persons in Canada and Australia.

Part 2: Policy Proposal

            In the contemporary advanced world of healthcare, nurses have since long claimed patient advocacy and public policy as fundamental and vital to their practice. As described by the ANA, nursing advocacy also involves political and legislative advocacy (ANA, 2010). One of the several policies that nurses advocate for include patient insurance for easy access of healthcare and medication. However, as nurses champion different courses for the betterment of the society, they tend to face different challenges from both legal and political opposition. Consequently, this section of the paper seeks to elaborate how nurses can advance their policies by explaining how my proposed policy of equal and universal access to healthcare insurance, can be taken through the legislative process to ensure advancement of the same. It also elaborates how the policy could be enacted through modification of an existing law while also indicating how laws and regulation could affect my advocacy efforts and how to overcome the same. Finally, the paper analyses the methods I could use to influence policy makers and legislators to support my policy by utilization of the ‘three legged’ lobbying.

The prominence of health insurance cover is innumerable as it protects an individual from various unexpected events. As Knickman and Kovner (2015) elaborate, health insurance cover enables individuals of every caliber, irrespective of their background, to access timely and professional healthcare services. Even though there exist several health insurance federal laws covering individuals, their expanse and level of coverage is still not universal. Therefore, my policy would best be advanced and enacted through modification of a currently existing law. Particularly, the federal law of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act covers all individuals, especially employees. However, the law has a dent in its aspect of coverage in that it allowed businesses with fewer than 50 employees to retract from providing insurance covers to their employees (Protection & Act, 2010). This loophole can be a disadvantage to various individuals working in small firms and also those earning too little to cover themselves. Therefore, for the proposed policy to be fully adopted, the existing law can be modified for all employers, even with few employees, to take insurance covers for all employees.

How Existing Laws Affect Advocacy Efforts

            However, the efforts to provide equality for all individuals may be affected by the already existing laws in the country. For instance, the already existing law of Obamacare (Protection & Act, 2010) institutes that businesses with fewer than fifty full-time employees may have the mandate not to cover their employees. This is ineffective as it is only plausible that such individuals work as much as those who are covered by their employers. Nonetheless, this law may pose a great challenge in advocating for the idea of equal coverage and access to medical care. This is majorly because it provides a platform for which the government receives revenue by taxing small enterprises in order to off-set their insurance cost (Harrington, 2010). The challenge arises since advocating for adjustment in employer insurance coverage even for small enterprises – which are relatively in large number – may reduce the government revenue, thus affecting the budget.

Influencing Legislators and Policy-makers

            The best way to influence legislators on the issue of equal employee insurance cover is by speaking up for their needs and requirements both as workers and as taxpayers in need of health protection from their immediate employees.

The Three Legs of Lobbying

            For effective lobby, it is imperative for a nurse to understand and appreciate the three legs of lobbying which includes the legislative process, the regulatory process, as well as the role of money. The first leg entails researching and selecting the best evidence-based intervention. On my side, I ought to prove to the legislators that adopting this policy can improve the quality and satisfaction of patient care to every American. This can be done by collecting data on the care experience of those covered by insurance contrary to their counterparts who are not. What’s more, funds from such studies can be abetted by nursing organizations, such as American Nursing Association – who spends almost $1.1 Million on lobbying efforts (Milstead, 2004). Furthermore, I would emphasize that the adoption of the policy would be effective in improving the health of the general population as well as in reducing per-capita cost of healthcare to all citizens in the country. This will show the legislators that the initiative to ensure the betterment of the country at large is considered in the policy.

            Moreover, the second leg – the regulatory process – involves networking in order to gain expertise. In an effort to convince the policy makers of my policy, I would develop a networking channel of experts that would back me up and provide even more evidence for the adoption of the same. Furthermore, I would join organizations that support nursing advocacy while also developing relationships with several experts in different nursing field. The third leg, which involves the role of money in advocating for the same, would be effective for consideration. I would prove to the judge that adoption of equality in health coverage for all employees – despite their number at their workplace – would encourage employment even to small growing firms while also reducing the cost of medical cover to the federal level.

Anticipated Obstacles in Legislative Process and How to Overcome Them

            One of the biggest obstacles I might face is the fiscal obstacle – especially if the country is facing financial crisis. This may make my policy be placed in the suspense file awaiting confirmation in the future. This can be avoided by elaborating that implementation of the policy would be of less fiscal impact to the economy. Furthermore, it is anticipated that political obstacles may be also a threat to the same. This is because I have not yet had political back up, which might reduce the individuals that can support the policy to be passed as law. However, this can also be avoided by seeking help from nursing organizations such as the ANA as well as developing relationships with experts who might easily drive the policy forward.

In conclusion, it is evident that nursing advocacy campaign is vital to nursing practice for the general well-being of the society. In this section of the paper, the policy of health insurance cover for all individuals – irrespective of their working circumstances and number – is championed to the final point of legislation. First, it can be easily advanced and enacted through modification of the currently existing Obamacare law. However, the same law might pose a great challenge in the enactment of this course, as it also provides a means of government income. Nonetheless, as discussed above, I would use the three legs of lobbying to advance the same ideas, thus influencing the legislators to accept my proposal. The paper also mentions the obstacles that I might face while presenting the same through the legislation process, as well as the methods that I can use to avoid being halted in the process.

Part 3: Ethical Dilemmas

            In nursing and healthcare provision, the question and the main ethical consideration regarding healthcare access fall primarily under the principle of justice which encompasses equality, fairness, and equitable distribution of resources (Trotochaud, 2006). Furthermore, one of the biggest and most disturbing question that arises from the same is; is it just for a country to fully rely on employer based insurance cover as the main way of covering for its citizens? This section of the paper majorly explains the ethical dilemmas that might arise during my advocacy for healthcare justice and ways that I would use to resolve them. Furthermore, it describes the ethics and lobbying laws that are applicable to my advocacy campaign as well as addressing the special ethical challenges that are unique to the uninsured population.

            Among the many ethical issues that arise when the topic of health insurance cover arises, the most challenging is the issue of whether the government or the employers ought to take cover for all individuals. This is majorly an issue when considering individuals that are unemployed, not covered by their families, and have no monetary attachments to fund for their insurance cover. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) stipulates that all employers with a considerable number of employees provide medical coverage for their employees. However, it leaves a loophole for the employers with few employees – who also ought to receive medical treatment. This, is in opposition of the nursing code of ethics provision nine, which advances for social justice and equality in healthcare service provision. Under certain circumstances, it may cause certain employers to hire few workers so as to reduce the cost of having to cover for the employees. This may have adverse effects on the health of the uninsured individual as previously discussed, yet having no lawful action to the employers.

            Furthermore, the fact that seasonal workers are not included in a system that rely on employer-based insurance cover poses ethical challenges. This shows that the system is detrimental to the people who are not employed, those who are seasonal workers, as well as those who work in firms that are allowed by the law not to cover for their employees. Therefore, as the forerunner, I would advocate for a system that is covered by the federal government – which will ensure that all individuals, regardless of their background and financial capabilities, are covered.

Ethics and Lobbying Laws Applicable to the Advocacy Campaign

            Several lobbying standards have been set in an effort to understand law and influence lawmakers to adopt a certain thought and policy decision. Therefore, lobbying virtually affects all aspects of health advocacy (Landers & Sehgal, 2004). For instance, the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 provides an opportunity for nurses to learn lobbying at the federal level, which improves their ability to tackle several issues while advocating for change. This is in congruence with my advocacy campaign which has several ethical considerations that might pose great challenges. Furthermore, several jurisdictions oblige lobbyists to pursue ethics lessons that would enable them see their policies through various stages of lobbying.

Special Ethical Challenges Unique to the Uninsured Population

            The literal isolation of the individuals that are either not covered by their employers or those that are unemployed and have no monetary stands to cover for themselves present a special ethical challenge. While majority of the people who are covered by their employers enjoy a reliable and unlimited access to the best healthcare, several individuals cannot access basic treatment – which is fatal in some cases. Furthermore, the ACA does not offer protection to a large number of individuals in this category, causing great challenges and uncertainties (Doherty, 2010). Therefore, this creates a huge health disparity among various patients that need the same quality of care.

Summary and Conclusion

            Nursing advocacy has proven to be eminent and has been engrossed as a fundamental principle of nursing. In this paper, a health advocacy campaign has been developed by elaborating ways through which policy is taken through various stages in order to convince law makers to adopt and implement it. In this case, it has been elucidated that medical insurance coverage in the US is not universal. Therefore, as described in the text, I would ensure that access to medical care is available for all citizens by ensuring that healthcare insurance is universal. This is achieved by modifying a few laws including the Affordable Care Act, to incorporate all working individuals as well as those who cannot finance their insurance. Furthermore, the paper identified ethical challenges – including the choice between employer and federal government coverage – it concludes that federal protection would be cheaper and effective. Considering the ways and recommendations provided in this paper would ensure success in nursing advocacy campaign.