HEALTH-RELATED POLICIES
Running Head: HEALTH-RELATED POLICIES 1
HEALTH-RELATED POLICIES 6
Health policies entail the actions, plans, and decisions made by relevant parties and are meant to accomplish significant healthcare goals in a country. Health policies are associated with the attainment of several things among the future definition. They offer a model for primacies and the expected duties and responsibilities of distinct teams, including encouraging consensus and allowing people to understand more about health. This paper explores various health bills, including H.R.4704 Advancing Research to Prevent Suicide, H.R.1418 Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act, and H.R.5663 Safeguarding Therapeutics Act.
H.R.4704 Advancing Research to Prevent Suicide
Summary of the Bill and Riders
The H.R.4704 Advancing Research to Prevent Suicide Act of 2019 was presented and introduced by Republican McAdams Ben on October 16, 2019. The bill is responsible for directing the National Science Foundation (NSF) to provide reviewed grants to higher education institutions. According to Congress.Gov (2021), the grants advocated for by the bill are meant to enhance multidisciplinary research that is related to suicide. The bill encourages studies related to preventing suicide and treating any complication that would prompt suicidal thoughts. It addresses the gaps evident in suicide prevention and treatment research by encouraging various parties, including doctoral students, to apply for the NSF grants.
Population Affected by the Issue
The bill presents an opportunity and platform for further studies that will benefit several populations. Funding research regarding suicide prevention and treatment, the bill can help veterans that have been affected by Post-Traumatic Disorder (PTSD) who contemplate suicide. The legislation will also affect adolescents that experience significant life challenges, along with ill patients.
Role of Healthcare Experts
Professionals in the medical field are crucial because they help educated affected members regarding the legislation and what it means for healthcare. In the past, research and education about suicide have been limited, making it important for experts, such as nurses and physicians, to understand how the legislation affects suicide prevention.
Pros and Cons
One advantage of this bill is that it will help prevent suicides across several United States populations. Increasing suicide rates among depressed teens will be eliminated after research enhances suicide prevention. One disadvantage connected with this bill is that there will be excessive use of funds, which does not guarantee positive results in the field. Even though research can help prevent suicide, it may not effectively reduce suicides among vulnerable populations.
Expert Testimony and Personal Opinion
Little et al. (2016) explain that researchers and other academics must come together to ensure they prevent suicide among vulnerable populations. The researchers indicate that the Advancing Research to Prevent Suicide Act of 2019 is effective legislation for the process. I believe the introduction of the bill is beneficial to vulnerable populations that are at risk of suicide.
H.R.1418 Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act
Summary of the Bill and Riders
The H.R.1418 Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2020 was introduced on February 28, 2019, and was sponsored by Democrat Peter A. DeFazio. The bill underwent the House and Senate committees and became Public Law on January 13, 2021. The legislation presents that nothing supersedes or modifies antitrust law operations regarding health insurance, including dental insurance operations (Congress.Gov, 2021). The Public Law also prohibits unfair courses of action in health insurance competition.
Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act
Population Affected
The H.R.1418 Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act will be affected by several populations, including medical professionals and patients. Health insurance providers in the US are also affected by the act because it prohibits unfair competition. For patients, the law may protect them from unfair exposure to expensive insurance plans.
Role of Medical Experts
Medical experts understand the cost of insurance and how it affects patients. For this reason, they can play a crucial role by advocating for this Public legislation and ensuring that it is adhered to and ascertain that all insurance providers act accordingly.
Pros and Cons
The legislation is beneficial to patients and other people in the US because it protects them from insurance providers’ unfair methods. It also ensures the providers adhere to the law when dealing with all forms of insurance. However, the disadvantage of this law is that it may limit the operations of insurance providers.
Expert Testimony and Personal Opinion
Lexology (2020) criticizes the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2020 by presenting that it negatively affects competition because it limits insurance providers’ operations. Individually, I think the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act is detrimental because it may lead to higher insurance premiums.
H.R.5663 Safeguarding Therapeutics Act
Summary of the Bill and Riders
The H.R.5663 Safeguarding Therapeutics Act is sponsored by Republican Brett Guthrie, a representative for Kentucky congressional district (GovTrack.gov, n.d). The bill was enacted after being signed by former US President Donald Trump on January 05, 2021. The legislation extends the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to certain products from other countries, including medical devices (Congressional Budget Office, 2020).
Population Affected
The legislation affects many parties, including healthcare organizations that import medical devices from other countries. It may lead to the destruction of several medical devices by the FDA, leading to the loss of millions.
The Role of Medical Experts
In recent years, counterfeit medical products have increased in the markets, which impacts effective healthcare delivery. For this reason, medical professionals need to ensure that the legislation is followed and active under the FDA. Medical professionals should lead the destruction of counterfeit medical devices.
Pros and Cons
One advantage of the Safeguarding Therapeutics Act is that it ensures counterfeit medical devices are destroyed, leading to effective medical care for patients that the counterfeit devices would have impacted. However, one disadvantage of this legislation is that it may cost the FDA millions in destroying these contrabands.
