Group Project: One-Page Policy Brief
NURS 412 Ethics, Law, Economics & Health Policy: Application to Quality Nursing Practice
One-Page Leave Behind Policy Paper
Purpose of the Assignment:
The purpose of this assignment is for the student to learn how to explore a health policy topic from a variety of perspectives, using this information as a foundation for policy development and advocacy. This assignment is designed to help you work in a group to identify a Health Policy Bill which you will use to prepare a Health Policy Brief.
Student Approach:
My entire health career has revolved around obesity and proactive prevention. NURS 412 allowed us to examine various policies which strive to achieve a better outcome for various populations. Many proposed laws are, unfortunately, in a state of limbo, with many not being read by a state legislator. Working as a small group, we were to create a brief and detailed proposal to the designated legislator for a county (the determined legislator was chosen based on a group vote). We decided that we wanted to propose the patient navigation assistance act for the Newport News legislator because the current system of using Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) are more complicated compared to Medicare.
Reason for Inclusion:
The assignment allowed us to examine various proposals and delve into the realm of law. It allowed us to familiarize ourselves with our local legislators and what they stand for. Ethics can be an interesting conundrum, posing a challenge for inquisitive nurses who are unfamiliar with healthcare law. In all my years in healthcare, I have seen patients with chronic conditions struggle to contact their insurance. Many patients within the Newport News have difficulty navigating their MCO with most not realizing their insurance may have changed.
Curricular Outcomes
Critical Thinking
Engages in creative problem solving.
MCO’s are a health care delivery system organized to manage cost, utilization and quality. While they assist in helping patients learn about treatment options, many patients face difficulty in switching MCOs due to a lack of communication. The proposal includes a recommendation section which attempts to remedy the situation with evidence and background information comparing the communication methods between MCOs and Medicare.
Nursing Practice
Demonstrates an awareness of complementary modalities and their usefulness in promoting health.
Many patients who require navigation have serious complications which can to difficulty navigating the various insurance holders. The Navigation Assistance Act explains how a majority of the patients have cancer and possibly live by themselves, theoretically making communication with MCOs more difficult. The proposal explains this, offering recommendations which can make the decision-making process easier physically and financially.
Communication
Adapts communication methods to patients with special needs.
Majority of the patients described in the Navigation Assistance Act have conditions that can impair their means of communication. With the current use of MCOs relying solely on physical mail to contact patients, this can leave patients in limbo. The recommendations seeks to improve means of communication, disregards the various MCO contact dates for a designated time like Medicare, and having more parties involved in the decision-making process.
Teaching
Uses informatics to enhance one’s own knowledge base to support teaching.
The background on describing MCO’s, Medicare, and chronic conditions is supported with evidence retrieved from peer-reviewed articles and the websites associated with them. The summary provides enough information to educate the reader as to why the issue needs to be addressed.
Research
Shares research findings with colleagues.
I had to collaborate with another classmate for this assignment. We both shared our findings for describing the issues presented in the Patient Navigation Assistance Act, the background, and evidence supporting our statements.
Leadership
Assumes a leadership role within one’s scope of practice as a designer, manager, and coordinator of health care to meet the needs of populations
As nurses, we have to voice our concerns based on issues the population is facing. In Newport News, many of the patients have chronic conditions and are at the age where most have difficulty understanding the different enrollment periods within the city. The policy paper was submitted to the legislator, in hopes that enrollment for MCOs in Newport News will be easier in the future.
Professionalism
Advocates for professional standards of practice using organizational and political processes.
As nurses, we want to advocate for what the patient needs. The assignment requires us to submit the one-page policy paper to the city’s legislator through their email.
Culture
Maintains an awareness of global environmental factors that may influence the delivery of health care services.
In the assignment, we had to explain the Patient Navigation Assistance Act and how it can improve the outcome of patient care. In Virginia, MCOs enroll patients based on the county they reside in. Each county has a different enrollment date due because it would allow MCOs to have more control over when people can enroll. However, many problems arise from communication exclusively through physical mail. Both recommendations strive to have a single enrollment period and offer more means of communication.