Federal Health Legislation - Essay Example

Running Head: Federal Health Legislation. Identify three examples of federal health legislation enacted since 1960 which had major impact on health policy in the United States. Failure of the United States to enact a national health insurance system is not synonymous with lack of national health care reform. Identify three examples of federal health legislation enacted since 1960 which had major impact on health policy in the United States. Name: University: Date: Course: Tutor: OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970) Legislation. This legislation aimed at in alleviating workplace injuries and illnesses. The legislation further aimed at paving way for voluntary safety initiatives deemed essential in making workplaces safer. By exempting businesses from fines on seeking advice about safety hazards from consultants. The legislation further sought to grant benefits to small businesses in order for them to recover from money, whenever they win lawsuits against the government as a direct result of an OSHA claim. This legislation encouraged employers to buy services whether from third parties or elsewhere in order to extend the benefits of initiatives, such as the Voluntary protection plan to smaller employers; OSHA legislation together with the subsequent amendments aimed at increasing the level of government outreach and technical help to employers seeking assistance; additionally, OSHA legislation aimed at increasing the size of the Occupational Safety and Health to guarantee timely results hence avoiding delay in settling health related disputes which often resulted in physical or psychological harm to victims of work place illnesses and injuries. The legislation also aimed at making OSHA an independent body so as to make it more efficient in service delivery. By doing so, the legislation further empowered inspectors by giving them the mandate and the responsibility of overseeing the safety of workers in the workplace. OSHA paved way for imposition fines to those employees who violate rules and procedures in the work place therefore making the implementation of work place safety a realistic goal for American workers. The OSHA legislation, has been criticized for leaving to much freedom for private businesses which henceforth. Generally OSHA targets to attain safe and healthful working environment standards. Furthermore, the legislation paved way for the states to receive assistance from the federal government to support research, and other efforts geared towards occupational safety and health . The OSHA legislation was necessitated by the need to respond to a saddening state of affairs whereby there has been reported a sharp increment in employee deaths and injuries, in the work places. Therefore this prompted legislation in order to halt the suffering and loss of lives as a result of preventable accidents. Particularly, OSHA sought to ensure safety and health of the working population in the US. This is contained in the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. As well as the above mentioned factors, high rates of workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths were noted as being major financial constraints to employees, whole families, employers, government, and society as a whole who in one way or the other had to shoulder the burden of any incidences associated with work place injuries. Speaking in terms of financial burden resulting from work place incidences, every year, over one million days of work are in the USA lost as a direct result of workplace injuries. For instance, the year 1995, saw the loss of an estimated $120 billion due to work-related injuries in terms of lost wages and productivity a staggering $60.9 billion, was lost (Weissert, C, S & Weissert W, G. 2003). What presents the greatest challenge to the government is the fact that the workforce illness and injuries touches on the common on workers which means that the issue unless handled well can have far reaching consequences to the political party in power. It is against such a back ground that, the issue surround the bill has remained as controversial as it is critical to the workers in America. Compounded with loss of life and health conditions that may warrant termination of job on medical conditions, the subject further drills into a political issue with different political ideologies trying to win voters using the legislation. U p to date, the bill can be said to have been more of an ideological channel of politics than it is a health concern, that is as far as politics are concerned. Beneficiaries. As mentioned earlier, the key beneficiary is the worker who in most cases is in contact with potentially hazardous equipment or conditions in the work place. The families of workers are also affected in that they are to claim fines form the AF office as well as claiming refunds when they incur refundable costs. The society benefits in that when a lot of loses are happening in the job place, many people are claiming compensation and therefore the government may divert crucial funds aimed for other plans to that specific cause. This in turn leads to losses in that benefits which should have been enjoyed by the society may have to be deferred. The other effect although not a benefit is the death of loved ones, this as well affects employees just as it does, the society. On work place related deaths, it is estimated that, over 6,000 workers die annually as a direct result of injuries in the workplace, as well as other illnesses related to the nature of occupations in what is termed as occupational deaths. According to available statistics, close to 10,000 workers continue to die annually as a result of traumatic occupational even after the enactment of the OSHA legislation. Medicare Legislation. This legislation together with the many changes it has undergone aims at delivering modern medicine to the elderly in America. It aims at making the elderly enjoy and leave a les painful life in their sunset years. This is achieved by offering quality health care through a provision for a system incorporating private medicine and practice. As well as seniors, the medicare legislation also targets the disabled by also providing comprehensive medical cover. Politically the Medicare legislation is seen as one of the most influential legislations often used during election campaigns due to the crucial role medical care plays in the lives of every American. In some political quarters, it is viewed as a national achievement, due to its doubling as a moral ground for pushing political agenda to the elderly as well as a PR gimmick for political expediency. It is estimated that more than 40 % of the American population are over the age of 50 years, with such a significant population aging or approaching the senior years, the medicare legislation has always been an important part of the American not only to the seniors but also the families whom without a comprehensive Medicare legislation would bring unbearable suffering to the general public. Medicaid Legislation This legislation is meant to principally assist workers who are disabled to achieve lifelong care insurance. The legislation is aimed at coming up with a medical information database which facilitates the easy use and dissemination of information therefore ensuring that there are no delays in attending to the disabled when they go to seek medical care. Just like many other federal legislations, this one had and continues to wield a political weight given the fact that, policies which affect the marginalized in the American society continue to be a soft ground for humanitarian and lobby groups who often agitate against government by constantly appraising its systems. According go (Hughes,1984) there are over a million disabled persons in the US this is quite a significant percentage viewed against the back ground of their umbrella association which fight for the right of the common rights. Medicaid legislation also paved way for expanded health insurance for those who are low-income Americans. On top of the disabled, medic aid offers health care services as well as long-term medical insurance to children from low-income backgrounds, expectant women as well as families. In a nutshell Medicaid aims at: Fulfilling the medical and health needs of low-income, disabled, and aged persons by availing Medicaid services to the eligible. Meeting the demands for primary costs of health care. Ensuring that both private health care insurance and long-term care insurance are available and affordable. To ensure that health care plans remain viable and sustainability in the long term. To offer better alternatives to an ever increasing cost of health care in the US Conclusion The legislation surrounding medical health care shall continue to dominate all spheres of US public life. There is a need for more research in order to certain the exact extent in which the legislation influence for better or worse the lives of Americans. No doubt these legislations play a pivotal role in the politics of the use and they shall continue to in the foreseeable future due to the very importance attached to health matters. Hughes, 1984. Health and modern Governance. Prentice Hall. London. Weissert, C, S and Weissert W, G.( 2003)Governing Health The Politics of Health Policy 2nd Ed. Oxford Press. Read More