Some Nurses May Be Hesitant To Get Involved With Policy Eval

Some Nurses May Be Hesitant To Get Involved With Policy Evaluation Th

Some nurses may be hesitant to get involved with policy evaluation. The preference may be to focus on the care and well-being of their patients; some nurses may feel ill-equipped to enter the realm of policy and political activities. However, as you have examined previously, who better to advocate for patients and effective programs and polices than nurses? Already patient advocates in interactions with doctors and leadership, why not with government and regulatory agencies? Select an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation or choose one of interest to you.

Review community, state, or federal policy evaluation and reflect on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program or policy described. Post an evaluation topic and a brief description of the evaluation. Discuss how social determinants impact this issue.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

In the realm of healthcare, nurses occupy a pivotal position, serving as frontline advocates for patient well-being and quality care. Despite their vital role, many nurses exhibit hesitance toward engaging in policy evaluation activities, often citing lack of training, confidence, or resources. Nevertheless, their firsthand understanding of patient needs and health disparities positions them uniquely to influence health policy through active participation. This paper will explore a federal healthcare policy—The Medicaid Program—and evaluate its effectiveness using established criteria, while also analyzing the impact of social determinants of health on this policy.

Overview of Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program designed to provide health coverage to low-income individuals and families in the United States. Since its inception in 1965, Medicaid has expanded to cover nursing home residents, disabled persons, pregnant women, children, and other vulnerable populations. Its primary goal is to improve access to healthcare services and reduce health disparities among marginalized groups. The program's effectiveness is often assessed through metrics such as coverage rates, healthcare access, health outcomes, and cost-effectiveness. Evaluating Medicaid requires scrutinizing these criteria to determine how well the program achieves its intended objectives.

Criteria Used to Measure Effectiveness

The effectiveness of Medicaid can be evaluated based on several key criteria:

• Coverage and Enrollment Rates: The proportion of eligible populations enrolled in Medicaid reflects the program’s reach. An increase in coverage suggests improved access and outreach efforts (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2022).
• Access to Healthcare Services: Metrics include appointment availability, transportation, and provider participation rates. Studies show that Medicaid enrollee access has generally improved, yet disparities persist in rural and underserved areas (Rosenbaum et al., 2020).
• Health Outcomes: Indicators such as chronic disease management, mortality rates, and preventive service utilization evaluate the quality of care provided (Guthrie et al., 2017).
• Cost-Effectiveness: Analyzing Medicaid expenditures relative to health improvements aids in determining economic sustainability and value for investment (Chung et al., 2019).

Evaluation Topic and Description

The chosen evaluation focuses on Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its impact on access to care among low-income populations in the United States. The evaluation examines whether expansion has been successful in increasing enrollment, improving health outcomes, and reducing disparities, especially among racial and ethnic minorities. It also investigates the financial sustainability of Medicaid expansion in different states, considering variations in implementation and state-level policies.

Impact of Social Determinants of Health

Social determinants of health—conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age—profoundly influence the effectiveness and equity of Medicaid. Factors such as socioeconomic status, education, employment, neighborhood environment, and social support systems shape health outcomes and access to healthcare services (World Health Organization, 2021). For instance, individuals living in impoverished neighborhoods often face barriers like transportation issues, lack of healthy foods, and exposure to environmental hazards, which impede their ability to utilize Medicaid services effectively.

Studies have demonstrated that addressing social determinants can significantly enhance Medicaid’s impact. Integrating social services with healthcare delivery—such as transportation assistance, housing support, and nutritional programs—can mitigate some barriers faced by vulnerable populations (Bach et al., 2018). Moreover, policy efforts aimed at reducing income inequality and improving educational opportunities tend to complement Medicaid’s goals, fostering healthier communities and more equitable health outcomes. Therefore, nursing professionals can play a vital role by advocating for policies that address these social determinants alongside healthcare reforms.

Conclusion

Despite some hesitations, nurses are uniquely positioned to influence policy evaluation due to their direct experience with patient care and understanding of social determinants affecting health. Evaluating federal programs like Medicaid through comprehensive criteria reveals the successes and areas needing improvement, especially concerning health disparities rooted in social determinants. Promoting nurse involvement in policy evaluation can lead to more equitable and effective health systems, ultimately improving patient outcomes and advancing health equity across communities.

References

• Bach, P. B., et al. (2018). Addressing social determinants of health: What role can health professionals play? Journal of Social Health, 5(2), 115-124.
• Chung, P. J., et al. (2019). Cost-effectiveness of Medicaid expansion: A systematic review. Health Economics Review, 9, 4.
• Guthrie, B., et al. (2017). Effectiveness of Medicaid in improving health outcomes: A systematic review. Medical Care Research and Review, 74(4), 403-417.
• Kaiser Family Foundation. (2022). Medicaid & CHIP Enrollment Trends. Retrieved from https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/medicaid-and-chip-enrollment-trends/
• Rosenbaum, S., et al. (2020). Access to healthcare under Medicaid expansion: A literature review. Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice, 13(1), 1-10.
• World Health Organization. (2021). Social determinants of health. WHO. https://www.who.int/social_determinants/en/