Staying Current on Health Policy

Lillie Crawford posted May 22, 2022 2:04 AM
Healthcare policy is part of the US healthcare system. It provides framework and structure to the system and ensures that the health and well-being of the population are protected and maintained. Health policy deals with issues related to healthcare access, costs, delivery, and privacy which are regulated by the three levels of the government, local, state, and national. It is important for health administrators to ensure that the organization they are managing remains current and relevant to the existing health policies implemented internally and that the changes made by policymakers are being followed. Understanding health policies give health administrators the knowledge to predict changes and to ensure that the plans of the organization in the future are flexible for possible changes or policy revisions (University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, 2021).
Since the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, health administrators have experienced opportunities and challenges. US healthcare is not universal however the ACA has provided opportunities for every American to access health insurance. Thus, more comprehensive access to healthcare also requires healthcare organizations to increase the quality of health services they provide through other payment models. The shifting pattern in healthcare policy has created new tension in accommodating patients or clients in providing care. Thus, administrators need to embrace the changes in business models and develop strategies to improve coordination with the government and staff. They are also required to update the latest technology in their daily operations to protect patient privacy and enhance sharing and collecting of health information. They are also required to provide consistent training among staff to improve skills and knowledge and ensure their compliance with the changes in the policies (Ellis, 2015).
References
Elis, L. (2015). Staying Relevant in the Midst of Health Care Reform: A Primer for Healthcare Executives. Retrieved from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/ecpe/staying-relevant-in-the-midst-of-health-care-reform-a-primer-for-healthcare-executives/
University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. (2021). Healthcare Policy: What is it and why is it important? Retrieved from https://www.usa.edu/blog/healthcare-policy/