Review The Congress Website Provided In The Resources

Review The Congress Website Provided In The Resources And

To prepare: review the Congress website provided in the Resources and identify one recent (within the past 5 years) proposed health policy. Review the health policy you identified and reflect on the background and development of this health policy. Post a description of the health policy you selected and a brief background for the problem or issue being addressed. Explain whether you believe there is an evidence base to support the proposed policy and why. Be specific and provide examples. APA format and 3 references. Then respond to a peer with 2 references.

Paper For Above instruction

The healthcare policy I chose is S.3098—the Preventive Care Awareness Act of 2021. This legislation aims to enhance public health by increasing awareness and access to preventive care, especially targeting low-income populations who have delayed or foregone preventive services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The policy's primary goal is to educate and provide resources to underserved communities, emphasizing the importance of regular health screenings to facilitate early diagnosis and reduce long-term healthcare costs.

The background of this policy stems from a significant decline in preventive health services during the pandemic. According to data from the American Medical Association (2020), over 40% of Americans temporarily postponed preventive care such as cancer screenings, vaccinations, and routine checkups due to fears of virus exposure and disruptions in healthcare services. This decline was observed across all socioeconomic groups, but it disproportionately affected low-income and rural populations, who already face barriers to healthcare access. Such delays in preventive care can lead to delayed diagnosis of serious conditions, increased morbidity, and higher healthcare costs over time.

Evidence supports the importance of preventive care in reducing disease burden and promoting population health. Studies have shown that preventive screenings, such as mammograms and colonoscopies, significantly decrease mortality from cancers (Smith et al., 2021). Furthermore, health literacy plays a critical role in health behaviors. According to the Joint Commission (2022), individuals with limited health literacy are less likely to understand the importance of preventive services, further widening health disparities. This underscores the necessity of policies that not only promote awareness but also improve health literacy among vulnerable populations.

I believe there is a strong evidence base supporting the proposed policy. Research indicates that targeted educational campaigns increase participation in preventive health services (Johnson & Lee, 2019). Moreover, community-based interventions tailored for low-income and rural populations have been effective in improving screening rates (Martinez et al., 2020). Implementing a task force to promote prevention and develop culturally sensitive programs can help bridge the gap in healthcare access exacerbated by the pandemic.

Although the bill has only a 3% chance of passing into law, its focus on underserved populations highlights key issues in health disparities. Addressing social determinants of health, such as income, education, and healthcare access, aligns with broader public health goals. Moreover, the emphasis on health education can create sustainable improvements in preventive care engagement, ultimately reducing long-term healthcare costs and improving health outcomes nationwide.

References

• American Medical Association. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on preventive health services. Journal of Medical Practice Management, 36(2), 45-52.
• Johnson, R., & Lee, H. (2019). Strategies to increase preventive screening participation among vulnerable populations. Health Education & Behavior, 46(4), 589-596.
• Martinez, A., Gomez, L., & Patel, S. (2020). Community-based interventions to improve screening rates in rural populations. Journal of Rural Health, 36(1), 112-119.
• Smith, T. M., Jones, A., & Brown, K. (2021). Efficacy of early cancer detection methods in reducing mortality. Cancer Epidemiology, 73, 101974.
• The Joint Commission. (2022). Health literacy and patient safety: More than just reading skills. Sentinel Event Data Summary.