Assignment: Legislation Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement
As a nurse, how often have you thought to yourself, If I had anything to do about it, things would work a little differently? Increasingly, nurses are beginning to realize that they do, in fact, have a role and a voice.

Many nurses encounter daily experiences that motivate them to take on an advocacy role in hopes of impacting policies, laws, or regulations that impact healthcare issues of interest. Of course, doing so means entering the less familiar world of policy and politics. While many nurses do not initially feel prepared to operate in this space effectively, the reward is the opportunity to shape and influence future health policy.

To Prepare:

Select a bill that has been proposed (not one that has been enacted) using the congressional websites provided in the Learning Resources.
The Assignment: (1- to 2-page Legislation Grid; 1-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement)

Be sure to add a title page, an introduction, purpose statement, and a conclusion. This is an APA paper.

Part 1: Legislation Grid

Based on the health-related bill (proposed, not enacted) you selected, complete the Legislation Grid Template. Be sure to address the following:

Determine the legislative intent of the bill you have reviewed.
Identify the proponents/opponents of the bill.
Identify the target populations addressed by the bill.
Where in the process is the bill currently? Is it in hearings or committees?
Part 2: Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement

Based on the health-related bill you selected, develop a 1-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement that addresses the following:

Advocate a position for the bill you selected and write testimony in support of your position.
Describe how you would address the opponent to your position. Be specific and provide examples.
At least 2 outside resources and 2-3 course-specific resources are used. Course-specific resources include house.gov, senate.gov, and congress.gov
By Day 7 of Week 4
Submit your completed legislation grid and testimony/advocacy statement.

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Solution

Part 1: Legislation Grid Template

Part 2: Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement

Healthcare is considered a basic human right. Nevertheless, in the United States, it is regarded as a privilege reserved for those who can afford or are eligible for subsidies for governmental programs such as Medicaid. Health insurance is one strategy to ensure that people access healthcare whenever they need it. As a result, nurses and other stakeholders must advocate for laws that make insurance available to everybody (Chiu, 2021). I support this initiative because it makes insurance more affordable for everyone, as the Law anticipated.

The ACA’s key main goal is to ensure that all Americans can afford care and fulfill their healthcare needs. For example, the legislation prohibits discrimination against persons based on their medical status and expands Medicaid eligibility. The Affordable Care Act raises Medicaid eligibility to 138 percent of the poverty line. Nevertheless, the law includes a flaw that exposes the middle class to exorbitant insurance prices (Nikpay & Frakt, 2020). Many people are uninsured and hence exposed to the effects of illnesses due to the country’s high insurance premiums. Reduced insurance rates will enable more middle-class people to get and maintain insurance coverage. As a result, the law would make healthcare more accessible, particularly to persons with middle-class incomes who may struggle to afford health coverage due to rising expenses.

Moreover, even when they’re not impoverished, people who do not have health insurance are prone to illnesses and a paucity of preventive services. Despite the individual mandate’s repeal, Americans and do not have healthcare coverage suffer greatly. They are accountable for the considerable healthcare costs that may result from paying out of cash. Consequently, the best way to protect children is to ensure that they can afford insurance.

Opponents of the plan may argue that lowering the proportion of insurance deductibles will affect insurance companies. The legislation also grants the government extensive authority over the insurance industry. Although it is undeniable that the law reduces insurance earnings, it has more benefits than drawbacks. Presently, the persons who benefit the most from the scheme are insurance company stockholders. These organizations make loads of money by overcharging Americans who aren’t adequately covered. The exorbitant fees are levied to maximize investors’ profits at the cost of Americans (Bossick et al., 2021). Consequently, deductibles should be cut for more individuals to be insured. Moreover, while revenues per policyholder may decrease, the law would allow more individuals to be insured. As a result, the corporations will recoup their losses by increasing the number of insured.

In conclusion, the Health Care Affordability Act of 2021 seeks to decrease the cost of coverage for people who earn more than the poverty threshold. The act aims to limit deductible earnings for care for persons earning over 400% of the poverty line. If the bill is passed, it will reduce insurance costs and improve access to medical care.

References

Adashi, E. Y., O’Mahony, D. P., & Cohen, I. G. (2021). The Affordable Care Act Resurrected: Curtailing the Ranks of the Uninsured. JAMA, 326(18), 1797-1798.

Bossick, A. S., Brown, J., Hanna, A., Williams, E. C., & Katon, J. G. (2021). Impact of state-level reproductive health legislation on access to and use reproductive health services and reproductive health outcomes: a systematic scoping review in the affordable care act era. Women’s Health Issues, 31(2), 114-121.

Chiu, P. (2021). Advancing nursing policy advocacy knowledge: a theoretical exploration. Advances in Nursing Science, 44(1), 3-15.

Nikpay, S., & Frakt, A. (2020). An Economic Perspective on the Affordable Care Act: Expectations and Reality. Journal of health politics, policy, and law, 45(5), 889-904.