Policies And Perspectives — HCS455 University Of Phoe

Policies And Perspectiveshcs455 Version 51university Of Phoenix Mater

Complete the Health Policy and Perspectives grid below, based on one of the two policies identified below. 1. The Individual Mandate: The “Individual Mandate” of the Affordable Care Act requires Americans to have insurance coverage or pay fines (through tax penalties). 2. Contraceptive Mandate: Requires employers to provide contraceptives to employees, without copays or deductibles (with some small exceptions).

Identify stakeholder perspectives related to this policy. For example, what are the conservative perspectives on this issue? What are the liberal perspectives? What are the legal implications of the policy on stakeholders? How would a religious stakeholder consider the policy? What are the ethical implications on stakeholders? What are the cultural implications on our society as a whole? What is your perspective and why? Complete all sections of the grid with a statement on the varying perspectives of the various stakeholders that you have identified and who are involved in the policy issue. Be sure to properly cite any references used in APA format.

Stakeholder Perspective Reaction and perspectives on policy, implications of the policy, etc.

Paper For Above instruction

The policy chosen for this analysis is the contraceptive mandate, a significant component of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This policy mandates that employers provide contraceptive coverage without co-pays or deductibles, with certain exemptions. Its development traces back to the broader efforts of healthcare reform aimed at expanding access to preventive services, particularly in relation to reproductive health, and reducing unintended pregnancies, which have significant health and economic implications. The policy has evoked varied responses across political, legal, religious, ethical, and cultural spectrums, reflecting the multifaceted debates surrounding reproductive rights and employer responsibilities.

Primarily, the objective of the contraceptive mandate is to improve women's health outcomes by removing financial barriers to access, promoting preventive care, and aligning with the ACA's goal of comprehensive coverage. It aims to ensure that contraceptive services are accessible and affordable, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes, lower unintended pregnancy rates, and economic savings in the healthcare system. By requiring employers to provide contraceptive coverage, the policy seeks to promote health equity and empower women to make reproductive choices without financial constraints.

Stakeholder groups affected by this policy encompass a broad spectrum. Conservative viewpoints often critique the mandate from a perspective rooted in religious and individual liberty concerns, asserting that it infringes upon religious freedoms and employers’ rights to oppose contraception on religious grounds. Many religious organizations argue that providing contraceptive coverage conflicts with their moral and religious teachings, leading to legal challenges and exemptions (Grossman & Assaf, 2012).

Liberals generally view the mandate as an essential step towards reproductive justice and gender equality. They argue that access to contraception is a fundamental aspect of women’s health and rights, and that the policy supports healthcare equity by reducing disparities (Guttmacher Institute, 2017). The legal implications of the policy have led to numerous court cases questioning the scope of religious exemptions and balancing religious freedom with public health interests (Beckwith, 2013).

Religious stakeholders, particularly religious employers, often consider the policy as an infringement on their conscience rights. Many argue that being compelled to include contraceptive coverage violates their religious doctrines and moral principles, leading to legal disputes and demands for exemptions (Mitchell & Nabi, 2017). The ethical dimensions include conflicts between respecting religious beliefs and ensuring equitable healthcare access, posing challenging dilemmas for policymakers and courts.

From a cultural perspective, the contraceptive mandate reflects ongoing societal debates about moral values, reproductive rights, and the role of government in personal health choices. It challenges traditional views on morality and underscores society’s evolving attitudes towards gender, sexuality, and individual autonomy (Hoffman & Janis, 2015). The policy’s implementation influences societal perceptions of reproductive health and intersects with ongoing cultural conflicts surrounding religion and secularism.

My perspective acknowledges the importance of reproductive rights and access to healthcare, viewing the contraceptive mandate as a necessary policy to promote gender equality and improve public health outcomes. While respecting religious beliefs, I believe that access to contraception should be prioritized as a fundamental healthcare right. The policy strikes a critical balance between respecting religious freedoms and advancing societal health goals, and ongoing legal and ethical dialogues are essential to address exemptions fairly (Sonfield et al., 2016).

References

• Beckwith, K. (2013). Religious liberty and healthcare: Implications of the Affordable Care Act. Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, 36(2), 339-373.
• Guttmacher Institute. (2017). Contraceptive access and reproductive health. https://www.guttmacher.org
• Grossman, J. M., & Assaf, D. (2012). Challenges to religious exemption policies in reproductive health. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 40(3), 673-679.
• Hoffman, K., & Janis, C. (2015). Society and culture: The impact of reproductive health policies. Sociological Perspectives, 58(4), 567-584.
• Mitchell, A., & Nabi, R. (2017). Religious objections and legal debates over contraceptive mandates. Harvard Law Review Forum, 130, 121-134.
• Sonfield, A., Gold, R. B., & Zolna, M. R. (2016). The role of contraceptive access in reducing unintended pregnancy. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 48(3), 129-135.