Public Policy Issue in Healthcare - Assignment Example

Public policy issue in healthcare Introduction Health is a holistic concept that refers to the state of complete spiritual, mental, physical and social wellbeing. Public health, on the other hand, refers to the role the society plays collectively in the creation of a healthy population. The American populace encounters numerous threats to their health all of which make public health imperative. Natural disasters and terrorism for example cause immense injuries. Diseases are yet other sources of threats with heart diseases, cancer, stroke and accidents being some of the leading causes of death in the country. The greatest impediment to the efforts to create a healthy society is the high cost of health care services in the country (Bryant, 2009). The high cost of health care casts a substantial number of people to premature deaths thereby subjecting millions of children to poor living conditions in the absence of their parents. The government acknowledges the problem and has since enacted a number of policies including the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), or Affordable Care Act (ACA). The challenges the legislation continues to prove the importance of costs in seeking high-quality health care services there showing the need for a lasting resolution of the problem of high costs as the research report below investigates. Research outline I. Nature and scope of the problem The section analyses the extent of the effects of high cost of health care services by investigating how cost continue to frustrate the efforts by the citizens to seek high quality health care. II. Evolution of the problem This section provides a history of the problem. Additionally it examines how it affects the population in the modern day America. III. Level of government involvement This section analyses the efforts of the government to resolve the problem by discussion the numerous legislations successive American governments have employed in combating the problem. IV. Conflicting public opinion The section discusses the divergent public opinion about the various policies V. Suggested policy direction The section suggests ways of bettering the existing legislations. Conclusion Health is an integral issue in any economy. The health of a society influences the stability of the government while safeguarding the future of the population. The government must, therefore, seek to address the problems facing the community in relation to health care. So far, the high cost of managing some of the leading causes of death in the country such as cancer and heart diseases has proven to be a major factor that continues to frustrate the population. As such, the government should formulate realistic policies that enable the population to access high-quality health care services. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is such a legislation that introduces a way for the citizens to afford high-quality services. However, the act has faced immense criticism and objection from politicians. The Congress among other organs of the government should strive to amend the law in order to better its provision thus safeguard the health of the population. References Brill, S. (2015). America's bitter pill: Money, politics, backroom deals, and the fight to fix our broken healthcare system. New York : Random House. Bryant, T. (2009). An introduction to health policy. Toronto: Canadian Scholars' Press Inc. Kronenfeld, J. J. (2002). Health care policy: Issues and trends. Westport, Ct: Praeger. Pipes, S. (2010). The truth about Obamacare. Washington, DC: Regnery Pub. Stevens, R., Rosenberg, C. E., & Burns, L. R. (2006). History and health policy in the United States: Putting the past back in. New Brunswick, N.J: Rutgers University Press. Read More