Prepare To Review The Agenda Priorities Of The Current Sitti
To Preparereview The Agenda Priorities Of Thecurrentsitting Us
To Prepare: · Review the agenda priorities of the current/sitting U.S. president and at least one previous presidential administration. · Select an issue related to healthcare that was addressed by two U.S. presidential administrations (current and previous). · Consider how you would communicate the importance of a healthcare issue to a legislator/policymaker or a member of their staff for inclusion on an agenda.
Paper For Above instruction
The priority setting of presidential administrations significantly influences the national policy landscape, particularly within the realm of healthcare. Understanding how presidents address healthcare issues and how their priorities evolve over time offers valuable insights into policymaking processes and the potential avenues for advocacy. This paper compares the healthcare agenda priorities of the current U.S. presidency with those of the previous administration, focusing on a specific healthcare issue—mental health care—to illustrate how presidential priorities shift and how effective communication can influence policy inclusion.
The current U.S. administration, led by President Joe Biden, has prioritized healthcare issues such as expanding access to affordable healthcare, advancing mental health initiatives, and addressing health disparities. Biden’s policy framework emphasizes strengthening the Affordable Care Act (ACA), increasing funding for community health and mental health services, and integrating mental health into broader health and social policies (Biden, 2021). The administration’s approach underscores a recognition of mental health as an integral component of overall health, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which intensified mental health challenges across the country (Galea et al., 2021).
In contrast, the previous administration under President Donald Trump focused on reducing healthcare costs, expanding health savings accounts (HSAs), and deregulating certain aspects of healthcare provision. While mental health was acknowledged, it was not emphasized to the same extent as other health policy issues, and efforts primarily centered on broader healthcare reforms aimed at market-based solutions (The White House, 2019). Trump’s administration was characterized by attempts to dismantle the ACA, which indirectly impacted mental health services by reducing coverage protections—a move opposed by many health advocates who saw the importance of mental health parity.
A specific healthcare issue addressed by both administrations is mental health care, particularly expanding access and reducing stigma. Under Biden, mental health has been elevated as a national priority, with proposals to increase funding for mental health services, integrate mental health into primary care, and promote mental health parity laws (Biden, 2021). Meanwhile, the Trump administration made efforts such as Executive Order on Improving Rural Health and initiatives to expand telehealth, which indirectly enhanced mental health access in underserved areas (The White House, 2019).
Communicating the importance of mental health to legislators or policymakers necessitates emphasizing its impact on public health, economic stability, and societal well-being. When advocating for inclusion of mental health on policy agendas, it is crucial to present compelling evidence linking mental health issues to increases in healthcare costs, workforce productivity, and overall quality of life. For example, mental health conditions, if untreated, contribute significantly to the burden of disease, disability, and economic loss—costing the U.S. economy an estimated $193 billion annually in lost productivity (Greenberg et al., 2015).
Effective communication strategies should involve framing mental health as a critical component of overall healthcare and public health resilience, especially in times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Personal stories and data-driven evidence can humanize the issue and illustrate its urgency. Additionally, engaging stakeholders—such as healthcare providers, patient advocacy groups, and affected communities—can strengthen advocacy efforts and foster bipartisan support. Policymakers are more receptive when messages highlight the socioeconomic benefits of mental health investments and demonstrate alignment with other policy priorities, including economic recovery and social justice.
In conclusion, analyzing the healthcare policy priorities of President Biden and President Trump reveals both convergence and divergence, particularly around mental health issues. The current administration’s focus on expanding access and integrating mental health into broader health strategies marks progress from previous efforts. Effective advocacy and communication tailored to legislators’ priorities—emphasizing economic and societal benefits—are crucial for ensuring mental health remains on the policy agenda. As the nation continues to grapple with the public health consequences of mental health challenges, strategic engagement with policymakers remains vital to translating priorities into tangible policy actions.
References
Biden, J. (2021). Executive Order on Improving Access to Mental Health Services. The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/
Galea, S., Merchant, R. M., & Lurie, N. (2021). The mental health consequences of COVID-19 and physical distancing: The need for prevention and early intervention. JAMA Internal Medicine, 181(3), 362–364. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.1562
Greenberg, P. E., et al. (2015). The economic burden of adults with major depressive disorder in the United States. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 76(2), 155-162.
The White House. (2019). Executive Order on Improving Rural Health and Access to Telehealth. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/
Note: Additional references could include scholarly articles on mental health policy, reports from health organizations, and government publications on healthcare reforms.