Discussion

Post  your response to the discussion question: Consider a population health topic that rises to the presidential agenda level. Which social determinant most affects this health issue? How did two recent presidents handle the problem? What would you do differently?

Rather than focus on the treatment of chronic disease, policies that influence population health tend to emphasize prevention and wellness; the reduction or elimination of waste and the eradication of health disparities based on race, ethnicity, language, income, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and other factors. The reasoning is that good health belongs to the whole, not just an individual. (New York State Dept. of Health, n.d.)

Regardless of political affiliation, every citizen has a stake in healthcare policy decisions. Hence, it is little wonder why healthcare items become such high-profile components of presidential agendas. It is also little wonder why they become such hotly debated agenda items.

Consider a topic (mental health, HIV, opioid epidemic, pandemics, obesity, prescription drug prices, or many others) that rises to the presidential level. How did the current and previous presidents handle the problem? What would you do differently?

Reference: New York State Department of Health. (n.d.).  Making New York the healthiest state: Achieving the triple aim. Retrieved June 21, 2021, from https://www.health.ny.gov/events/population_health_summit/docs/what_is_population_health.pdf

To Prepare:

· Review the Resources and reflect on the importance of agenda setting.

· Consider how federal agendas promote healthcare issues and how these healthcare issues become agenda priorities.

Required Readings

· Short, N. M. (2022).  Milstead’s health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (7th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

· Chapter 1, “Informing Public Policy: An Important Role for Registered Nurses” (pp. 2–23 only)

· Chapter 3, “Problem Identification and Agenda Setting: What Rises to a Policymaker’s Attention?” (pp. 57–71)

· Chapter 10, “Financing Health Care” (pp. 229–239)

· Chapter 12, “An Insider’s Guide to Engaging in Policy Activities” (pp. 293–301)

· Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (n.d.).  Diabetes fact sheetsLinks to an external site. . https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/factsheets.html

· DeMarco, R., & Tufts, K. A. (2014).  The mechanics of writing a policy briefLinks to an external site..  Nursing Outlook, 62(3), 219–224.

· Kingdon, J.W. (2001). A model of agenda-setting with applications.  Law Review M.S.U.-D.C.LLinks to an external site. ., 2(331)

· Lamb, G., Newhouse, R., Beverly, C., Toney, D. A., Cropley, S., Weaver, C. A., Kurtzman, E., … Peterson, C. (2015).  Policy agenda for nurse-led care coordinationLinks to an external site..  Nursing Outlook, 63(4), 521–530. doi:10.1016/j.outlook.2015.06.003.

· O’Rourke, N. C., Crawford, S. L., Morris, N. S., & Pulcini, J. (2017).  Political efficacy and participation of nurse practitionersLinks to an external site..  Policy, Politics, and Nursing Practice, 18(3), 135–148.

· OASIS. (n.d.).  Evaluate resources: An interactive guideLinks to an external site. . Walden University. https://academics.waldenu.edu/library/evaluate-resources-web

· Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Enhancing Environmental Health Content in Nursing Practice, Pope, A. M., Snyder, M. A., & Mood, L. H. (Eds.). (n.d.).  Nursing health, & environmentLinks to an external site. :  Strengthening the relationship to improve the public’s health.

· USA.gov. (n.d.).  A-Z index of U.S. government departments and agenciesLinks to an external site. . Retrieved September 20, 2018, from https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/a

· USA.gov. (n.d.).  Branches of the US governmentLinks to an external site. . https://www.usa.gov/branches-of-government

· The White House. (n.d.).  The cabinetLinks to an external site. . https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinet/

· Document:  APA Course Paper Template (APA 7) (Word document)Links to an external site.

· Document:  Agenda Comparison Grid Template (Word document)