Posted: June 14th, 2023

Assignment: Agenda Comparison Grid

Assignment: Agenda Comparison Grid and Fact Sheet or Talking Points Brief

It may seem to you that healthcare has been a national topic of debate among political leaders for as long as you can remember.

Healthcare has been a policy item and a topic of debate not only in recent times but as far back as the administration of the second U.S. president, John Adams. In 1798, Adams signed legislation requiring that 20 cents per month of a sailor’s paycheck be set aside for covering their medical bills. This represented the first major piece of U.S. healthcare legislation, and the topic of healthcare has been woven into presidential agendas and political debate ever since.

As a healthcare professional, you may be called upon to provide expertise, guidance and/or opinions on healthcare matters as they are debated for inclusion into new policy. You may also be involved in planning new organizational policy and responses to changes in legislation. For all of these reasons you should be prepared to speak to national healthcare issues making the news.

In this Assignment, you will analyze recent presidential healthcare agendas. You also will prepare a fact sheet to communicate the importance of a healthcare issue and the impact on this issue of recent or proposed policy.

To Prepare:

Review the agenda priorities of the current/sitting U.S. president and the two previous presidential administrations.
Select an issue related to healthcare that was addressed by each of the last three U.S. presidential administrations.
Reflect on the focus of their respective agendas, including the allocation of financial resources for addressing the healthcare issue you selected.
Consider how you would communicate the importance of a healthcare issue to a legislator/policymaker or a member of their staff for inclusion on an agenda.

The Assignment: (1-page Comparison Grid, 1-Page Analysis, and 1-page Fact Sheet)

Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid

Use the Agenda Comparison Grid Template found in the Learning Resources and complete the Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid based on the current/sitting U.S. president and the two previous presidential administrations and their agendas related to the public health concern you selected. Be sure to address the following:

Identify and provide a brief description of the population health concern you selected and the factors that contribute to it.
Describe the administrative agenda focus related to the issue you selected.
Identify the allocations of financial and other resources that the current and two previous presidents dedicated to this issue.
Explain how each of the presidential administrations approached the issue.

Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis

Using the information you recorded in Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid on the template, complete the Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis portion of the template, by addressing the following:

Which administrative agency would most likely be responsible for helping you address the healthcare issue you selected?
How do you think your selected healthcare issue might get on the agenda for the current and two previous presidents? How does it stay there?
Who would you choose to be the entrepreneur/ champion/sponsor of the healthcare issue you selected for the current and two previous presidents?
At least 2 outside and 2-3 course resources are used.

Part 3: Narrative

Using the information recorded on the template in Parts 1 and 2, develop a 1-page narrative that you could use to communicate with a policymaker/legislator or a member of their staff for this healthcare issue. Be sure to address the following:

Summarize why this healthcare issue is important and should be included in the agenda for legislation.
Justify the role of the nurse in agenda setting for healthcare issues.
At least 3 resources are used.

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Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid

Population Health Concern

The population health concern I selected is the opioid crisis. The opioid crisis is a public health emergency that has been declared by the United States government. It is characterized by an increase in the use and misuse of opioids, which are a class of drugs that include prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. The opioid crisis has had a devastating impact on the United States, with over 70,000 people dying from opioid overdoses in 2017 alone.

Factors Contributing to the Opioid Crisis

There are a number of factors that have contributed to the opioid crisis, including:

• The overprescribing of opioids by doctors
• The availability of opioids on the black market
• The addictive nature of opioids
• The lack of access to treatment for opioid addiction

Administrative Agenda Focus

All three of the most recent presidential administrations have focused on addressing the opioid crisis. The Trump administration has taken a number of steps to address the crisis, including declaring a public health emergency, increasing funding for treatment and prevention programs, and cracking down on opioid trafficking. The Obama administration also took steps to address the crisis, including expanding access to naloxone, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses. The Bush administration also took steps to address the crisis, including funding research into new treatments for opioid addiction.

Allocation of Financial and Other Resources

The Trump administration has allocated significant resources to address the opioid crisis. In 2018, the administration requested $6.2 billion in funding for the opioid crisis, which was an increase of $1.5 billion from the previous year. The administration has also allocated resources to address the crisis through executive orders and other measures.

The Obama administration also allocated significant resources to address the opioid crisis. In 2016, the administration requested $1.1 billion in funding for the opioid crisis, which was an increase of $100 million from the previous year. The administration also allocated resources to address the crisis through executive orders and other measures.

The Bush administration also allocated resources to address the opioid crisis. In 2007, the administration requested $150 million in funding for the opioid crisis, which was an increase of $50 million from the previous year. The administration also allocated resources to address the crisis through executive orders and other measures.

Approach to the Issue

Each of the three presidential administrations has taken a different approach to addressing the opioid crisis. The Trump administration has focused on a “public health” approach to the crisis, which emphasizes prevention and treatment. The Obama administration also took a public health approach to the crisis, but it also focused on law enforcement efforts to crack down on opioid trafficking. The Bush administration focused on a “law enforcement” approach to the crisis, which emphasized cracking down on opioid trafficking.

Part 2: Agenda Comparison Grid Analysis

Which Administrative Agency Would Most Likely Be Responsible for Helping You Address the Healthcare Issue You Selected?

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) would most likely be responsible for helping me address the opioid crisis. SAMHSA is a federal agency that is responsible for improving the mental and emotional health of all Americans. SAMHSA has a number of programs and initiatives that are designed to address the opioid crisis, including the National Helpline, which provides free and confidential treatment information and referrals.

How Do You Think Your Selected Healthcare Issue Might Get on the Agenda for the Current and Two Previous Presidents? How Does It Stay There?

I think my selected healthcare issue, the opioid crisis, might get on the agenda for the current and two previous presidents by raising awareness about the issue and its impact on the American people. I think it is important to show how the opioid crisis is affecting families, communities, and the economy. I also think it is important to show how the opioid crisis is preventable and treatable.

I think the opioid crisis can stay on the agenda by continuing to raise awareness about the issue and its impact on the American people. I also think it is important to continue to support programs and initiatives that are designed to address the opioid crisis.

Who Would You Choose to Be the Entrepreneur/Champion/Sponsor of the Healthcare Issue You Selected for the Current and Two Previous Presidents?

I would choose to be the entrepreneur/champion/sponsor of the opioid crisis for the current and two previous presidents. I have a personal connection to the opioid crisis, as I have lost loved ones to opioid addiction. I also have a professional connection to the opioid crisis, as I am a nurse and I have worked with patients who are struggling with opioid addiction. I believe that I have the skills and experience necessary to be an effective advocate for the opioid crisis.