HP609 2020 February All Weeks Discussions Latest

HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives

Week 1 Discussion

Key Characteristics of the U.S. Healthcare System

Initial Post

Quality, cost, and access are three pillars of the U.S. health system. Select three other attributes of our system and relate them to these three pillars. You may use the attributes provided by Shi and Singh for your selection options.

For this discussion, you must refer to at least one article from a reputable newspaper (can be online) or other media source that is current (from the last month) and post the resource in APA format.

You must have at least two references in your initial post and the media source can be one of the two.

Summarize your post in 500 to 750 words.

Note: In this forum, you will not be able to see other student posts until 30 minutes after you create your own initial post.

Please refer to the Grading Rubric for details on how this activity will be graded.

Reply Posts

Reply to at least two of your classmates. In your reply, include new information about the attributes in the initial post. Each reply should be 200 to 400 words.

 

HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives

Week 3 Discussion

Politics of Opposition

Initial Post

Watch this week's videos and read the assignments in preparation for this discussion.

Republicans have been undermining the ACA and oppose various Medicare-for-all proposals. In addition to party politics and differences, sections of the healthcare industry oppose certain changes in the Medicare-for-all options.

Using 500-750 words, write an initial post that describes the political alliances and positions by party and in the industry. In your analysis, include the financial arguments and the political/ideological arguments about the role of government versus the private sector changes that are intended to increase coverage. You must reference the KFF comparison of proposals.

Please refer to the Grading Rubric for details on how this activity will be graded.

Reply Posts

Reply to at least two of your classmates. In your reply, compare and contrast the peer response to yours, introduce new questions, and/or present new information. Each reply should be 200 to 400 words.

HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives

Week 4 Discussion

Why Are So Many People Uninsured and Underinsured?

Introduction

Many Americans are still confronting medical bills that are large enough to threaten their family financial health, up to and including personal bankruptcy. While more people have health insurance under the ACA, some people still lack coverage or have significant gaps in coverage for a variety of reasons. Some expenses are related to the high cost of treatments for certain diseases and conditions. Other expenses are related to the “routine” costs associated with insurance premiums and cost sharing for covered benefits.

Initial Post

Using 500 to 750 words, complete the following:

Analyze the major current contributors to insurance coverage gaps (no coverage and gaps in coverage).

Reply Posts

Reply to at least two of your classmates. In your reply posts, include your analysis of the impact on quality of care generated by these generated by these coverage gaps and the non-financial barriers to access described in your readings and in your own research. Each reply should be 200 to 400 words.

 

HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives

Week 5 Discussion

Public Health and Disparities and Social Determinants of Health

Initial Post

In 500-750 words, post in your assigned group your response to the prompt. In your initial post, refer at least one article related to your entry from a reputable newspaper (can be online) or other media source that is current within one month and post the link. You must have at least two references in your initial posting, and the media source can be one of the two. An easy way to find current articles on health policy is through Kaiser Health News.

Discussion Topic: In your post, you should discuss if and how the ACA has impacted your topic, and the impact of Republican proposals to repeal/replace the ACA on your topic.

Group 1: Health Disparities: What are two public policies needed to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in health care?

Group 2: Quality: What are two public policies needed to improve quality without increasing expenses?

Notes:

Make sure that your initial post is in your group thread and that your replies are to two of your classmates' posts in the other group.This is not a group project, requiring you to post as a group. Students are grouped by topic only and should post an initial entry on your assigned topic as an individual.

HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives

Week 6 Discussion

New Health Systems: Aligning Money, Risk, Providers, and Politics

Initial Post

In 500-750 words, post in your assigned group your response to the prompt. In your initial post, refer at least one article related to your entry from a reputable newspaper (can be online) or other media source that is current within one month and post the link. You must have at least two references in your initial posting, and the media source can be one of the two. An easy way to find current articles on health policy is through Kaiser Health News.

Group 1:

Briefly describe the workforce and system challenges of care coordination and team-based care across the continuum (quality and cost) and identify the two best tactics that clinically integrated networks can use to achieve significant quality improvement.

Group 2:

Aligning healthcare spending more appropriately across the continuum presents financial and political challenges. Propose a plan to spend more on prevention and less on end-of-life care, and address the political challenges your plan will face.

Notes:

Make sure that your initial post is in your group thread and that your replies are to two of your classmates' posts in the other group.

This is not a group project, requiring you to post as a group. Students are grouped by topic only and should post an initial entry on your assigned topic as an individual.

 

HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives

Week 8 Discussion

What Are the Next Big Issues in Health Policy?

Introduction

Assume you have the ability to select one major “new” health policy for implementation. Select a topic from those presented in this week's readings.

Initial Post

Using 500 to 750 words, complete the following:

Explain why you chose your topic and describe the expected impact on population health within the next five years.