Write a research paper that discusses how one policy short will specifically address a healthcare-related issue.

Write a research paper that discusses how one policy short will specifically address a healthcare-related issue.

Two policy briefs will be written in the class. One policy brief will address some aspect of Healthcare in particular. The second policy brief will address any health related issue. The policy brief should be a document that can be used (in theory) by an advocacy organization to advocate for a policy change (legislative, administrative or legal). A policy brief is a focused discussion of an action(s) to achieve intentional and purposeful movement. See guidelines for writing the policy brief in this syllabus.

Healthcare issue Policy Brief Types of Topics:

Healthcare equitable access, managing health care expenditures while maintaining equitable access, Medicaid expansion, covid-19 vaccine mandate impact on health provider employment, improving medical services for older adults, etc. These are only a very few examples, you can pick anything that is related to the Healthcare industry regarding the delivery of medical services.

Health Related Issue Policy Brief Types of Topics

Tobacco and alcohol use at the workplace, Healthy foods to be served at company meetings and events, flextime to exercise or attend health programs, drug abuse, maternal and child health,

environment, global health, workplace safety, opioid epidemic,etc. These are only a very few

examples, you can pick anything that is related to Population Health, except healthcare delivery of services.
Policy Brief

The policy brief should be a document that can be used (in theory) by an advocacy organization to advocate for a policy change (legislative, administrative or legal). A policy brief is a focused discussion of an action(s) to achieve intentional and purposeful movement. This discussion should include the best available data or evidence to support a devised policy or range of policy options, and a narrative analysis that considers the impact of a proposed policy. A policy brief is not equivalent to an advocacy statement, it should refrain from advocating a single call to action, and it is not an opinion piece suggesting implications beyond parameters defined by the supportive evidence. While policy briefs may vary in format, in this class, it should include the following structure:

I. Statement of the problem

1) A statement of the public health policy issue/problem that the policy change/intervention is designed to address.

2) Presentation of data describing the issue/problem to be addressed by the policy change. You can include graphs, tables, figures, etc.

3) The problem should be defined relative to the audience for which it is intended.

What is the issue or the problem? Why is it important? Why now? Who is impacted and who cares? When defining your problem, be specific to your audience and clearly frame the issue. Who has the influence to make a change that will address this problem? If the audience is expected to be policymakers (and their staff), community leaders (grassroots or grasstops), industry or nongovernmental organization executives, the problem should be defined in terms relevant to their policy intervention, respectively.

II. Statement of the Policy

A descriiption of the policy option you have selected, what is known about the policy option from the peer review literature (if available) and the health, fiscal, administrative, legal, social, and political implications of the policy option. You may want to include a descriiption of what other locales are doing in response to the problem (if available). A rationale for the policy option(s) you are advocating and/or that is (are) preferred by the advocacy organization.

Identify 2–3 specific policy actions that will address the problem. In a focused policy brief, the goal is to limit the menu of potential actions to target a policy approach of interest. A more extensive policy review or proposal may be a comprehensive white paper that elucidates many related policy options.

III. Make the Case

Display and describe relevant data using 1–2 figures or tables; declare potential bias based on the data sources; refer to other related policies that are not discussed. Redirect to other policy references when possible or appropriate. State the underlying policy assumptions and framework (e.g. free market, etc.)

B. Recommendations focused on how to enact the policy option(s) you are advocating and/or is (are) preferred by the advocacy organization.

IV. Impact

Briefly discuss the implications of both action and inaction; analyze estimated pros and cons of the policy action; consider intended and unintended consequences; address opposing arguments. Conclude with a restatement of how this policy specifically addresses this problem.

At least five references should be included at the end. These should include peer-reviewed literature, published policy reports, and/or information obtained from websites. Information from reports and websites should be referenced as such.

The exact nature of the policy brief is dependent on the issue that is the focus of the brief. The policy brief should between 5-7 pages, Times New Roman 12 font, double spaced except for tables and figures.

Policy Brief Scoring Rubric

Content

Poor

Acceptable

Exceptional

1. Statement of the Problem

Unable to state the problem.(0)

Able to state the problem but it is not appropriate.(5)

Able to state the problem.(10)

2. Descriiption of the Policy

Unable to describe the policy.(0)

Able to the describe the policy but it is not completely appropriate.(5)

Able to describe the policy.(10)

3. Rationale for the Policy

Unable to cite the Rationale. (0)

Cites the rationale but it is not completely appropriate.(5)

Able to cite the rationale.(10)

4. Identifies Specific Policy Actions

Unable to identify specific policy actions.(0)

Identifies the specific policy actions but they are incorrect.(6)

Identifies specific policy actions.(20)

5. Refers to Peer Reviewed Literature

Does not cite peer reviewed literature.(0)

Able to provide related literature, but they are not correct.(5)

Able to provide related literature.(10)

6. Cites data for the policy

Unable to provide data.(0)

Able to provide data, but they are not correct.(5)

Able to provide related data.(10)

7. Provides Policy Recommendations

Unable to provide recommendations.(0)

Able to provide recommendations, but they it is not correct.(6)

Able to provide appropriate recommendations.(15)

8. Provides Implications for Policy action(s)

Unable to provide implications for policy action(s).(0)

Provides implications for policy action, but they are not correct.(6)

Able to provide correct implications for policy action.(15)

Format

Grammar/Spelling

Spelling/punctuation errors are evident.(-5)

Spelling/punctuation errors are minor & few.(-3)

There are no errors in spelling or punctuation.(-0)

Organization

No logical progression.(-5)

1-2 illogical progression.(-3)

Logical progression.(-0)

Clarity of the narrative

Hard to know what writer is articulating.(-5)

Writing generally clear, but unnecessary words used.(-3)

Writing is clear & succinct.(-0)

APA style citations

Fails to follow APA citation (-5)

APA citations with mistakes(-3)

Correct APA citations (-0)

Timeliness

Submitted > 2 class late.(-5)

Submitted one class late.(-3)

Submitted on time.(-0)

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