Posted: June 14th, 2023

Presidential Agendas

Presidential Agendas
Number of sources: 3
Paper instructions:
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.

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Importance of Agenda Setting

Agenda setting is the process by which issues are brought to the attention of policymakers and the public. It is a critical part of the policymaking process, as it determines which issues will be addressed and how they will be addressed.

There are a number of factors that can influence agenda setting, including the media, interest groups, and the public. The media can play a significant role in agenda setting by highlighting certain issues and giving them more attention than others. Interest groups can also play a role by lobbying policymakers and the public to support their causes. And the public can play a role by voting for candidates who support their priorities.

How Federal Agendas Promote Healthcare Issues

The federal government can promote healthcare issues in a number of ways. One way is through legislation. The government can pass laws that create new programs or change existing ones. For example, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was a major piece of legislation that expanded health insurance coverage to millions of Americans.

The government can also promote healthcare issues through funding. The government provides funding for a number of healthcare programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This funding helps to ensure that people have access to healthcare.

Finally, the government can promote healthcare issues through research. The government funds a number of healthcare research programs, which helps to improve our understanding of diseases and develop new treatments.

How Healthcare Issues Become Agenda Priorities

Healthcare issues can become agenda priorities for a number of reasons. One reason is that they can have a significant impact on the lives of many people. For example, the opioid epidemic has had a devastating impact on communities across the country. Another reason is that healthcare issues can be very costly. The cost of healthcare in the United States is a major concern for many people.

Healthcare issues can also become agenda priorities due to the efforts of interest groups. Interest groups can lobby policymakers to support their causes. For example, the American Medical Association (AMA) is a powerful interest group that advocates for the interests of doctors.

Finally, healthcare issues can become agenda priorities due to the public’s demand. If the public is concerned about a particular healthcare issue, they may contact their elected officials and demand action.

How I Would Handle the Problem Differently

If I were president, I would focus on the following areas to improve healthcare in the United States:

Access to healthcare: I would work to expand access to healthcare by expanding Medicaid and Medicare, and by making it easier for people to buy health insurance.
Cost of healthcare: I would work to reduce the cost of healthcare by negotiating lower drug prices, and by reforming the healthcare delivery system.
Quality of healthcare: I would work to improve the quality of healthcare by increasing funding for research, and by improving the training of healthcare providers.
I believe that these are the most important areas to focus on in order to improve healthcare in the United States. I would also work to address other important issues, such as the opioid epidemic and mental health.