Political Advocacy
lease note that the Discussion is in the form of a letter regarding a legislative or health issue that you consider important and would like to influence. Please read the instructions carefully and let me know if you have any questions.
Public policies—policies that influence broad groups of people over broad areas of the country—can be initiated at the executive branch of government, designed through legislative action, and crafted through the judicial branch. It is important to keep in mind that what goes on at the national or state level ultimately influences what occurs at the institutional level, directly influencing what health care administrators and their organizations can do.
Bring to mind a particular health care issue about which you would like to influence a change of policy. You might start by looking into the status of a bill of which you are already aware. You can also search a topic of personal or professional interest, such as women’s health, childhood diabetes, or hospice care, and follow leads and links to legislative information. You may scan state and federal government sites to find links to health legislation. Sites are also available that specialize in tracking bills in progress. The link in the Week 7 Learning Resources titled “Legislation Resources on the Web” will take you to some Web addresses that can start you off.
Identify two or three Web sites that provide credible information on this issue. Research what has been proposed or enacted at local, state, and federal levels in the past to address this issue. Also research the positions of special interest groups.
Then, write a persuasive e-mail or letter to a particular individual with whom you would like to communicate about this issue—such as an elected official or a health care leader. Explain why you believe this issue is important and how it could be addressed through policy. Describe the potential impact of your proposed changes on health care consumers and/or health services organizations. Be sure to support your position with information from Learning Resources and your own research.
Post by Day 4 a cohesive response that addresses the following:
- Provide a copy of the letter or e-mail you have written, as indicated above.
- Suggest two or three credible Web resources that your colleagues can access for information on this issue.
- International students may write a letter or e-mail to a politician in their own country.
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