NHS FPX 6008 Assessment 4 Lobbying for Change

Student Name

Capella University

NHS-FPX 6008 Economics and Decision Making in Health Care

Prof. Name

Date

Lobby for Change

Dear Grant,

As a registered nurse in San Francisco, I am writing to urge swift action regarding the issue of San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH) in San Francisco, CA, acquiring healthcare insurance coverage. This matter has adversely affected many of your constituents who experience difficulties affording health insurance coverage (Tulane University, 2020).

The shortage of healthcare insurance coverage has led to ominous outcomes for individuals and the local area. It has increased the number of individuals unable to afford basic clinical care, leading to exacerbated chronic illnesses and heightened rates of hospitalizations. Furthermore, those lacking health coverage are more likely to forego necessary medical care, potentially worsening their overall health and well-being (Tolbert et al., 2020).

Resolving this issue would yield several benefits, including enhancing the overall health of individuals, alleviating the strain on emergency departments, and reducing healthcare costs. Ensuring access to health insurance coverage guarantees that individuals receive timely and appropriate medical care, thereby preventing the onset of chronic illnesses and lowering hospitalization rates (WHO, 2021).

Failure to address the issue can result in adverse effects such as increased financial burden on individuals and families, reduced access to medical care, heightened strain on emergency departments, and worsened health outcomes. Without health insurance coverage, individuals may face significant financial hardships paying for medical bills out of pocket, leading to debt, bankruptcy, and financial distress (Tolbert et al., 2020). Moreover, the lack of coverage may deter individuals from seeking timely medical care, potentially resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment, ultimately leading to more severe health issues and higher healthcare costs in the long term (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2021).

Individuals without health insurance coverage often resort to seeking medical care in emergency departments, contributing to overcrowding and longer wait times, which can compromise the quality of care for all patients (Tolbert et al., 2020).

The inadequacy of access to healthcare insurance coverage has far-reaching implications for the healthcare industry at institutional, local, state, and national levels (Raghupathi & Raghupathi, 2020). It has been associated with escalating healthcare costs, increased hospitalization rates, and diminished overall healthcare quality (Crowley & Bornstein, 2019). Proposed strategies to address this issue include expanding Medicaid, establishing more affordable healthcare plans, and incentivizing individuals to obtain health insurance coverage (Crowley & Bornstein, 2019).

The principle of cultural sensitivity entails understanding and respecting the cultural beliefs, practices, and values of the community being served. This principle should be considered to ensure that the proposed solution is developed with an understanding of the cultural values and beliefs of the community (Stubbe, 2020). Similarly, the ethical considerations principle ensures that the proposed solution is fair, just, and equitable for all community members, particularly vulnerable populations (Haddad & Geiger, 2020). The diversity principle emphasizes recognizing and valuing differences between individuals and groups, ensuring that the proposed solution promotes health equity and accessibility to essential healthcare services (Tan, 2019).

As a nurse, I have firsthand experience of the impact of inadequate healthcare insurance coverage on individuals and healthcare providers. Providing appropriate medical care to uninsured individuals can pose ethical dilemmas and cultural conflicts. Additionally, limited resources can hinder healthcare providers’ ability to deliver high-quality care to all patients.

My nursing experiences have informed the planning of resources and risk assessment for addressing this economic issue. I have witnessed the consequences of limited access to healthcare insurance coverage for both individuals and healthcare institutions, leading me to propose recommendations for improving access to healthcare insurance coverage. Through risk analysis, I have identified potential challenges and devised strategies to mitigate them.

One particularly striking experience was when a patient presented to the emergency department with severe pneumonia but lacked health insurance coverage. Despite needing hospitalization, the patient could not afford medical expenses, placing the burden on the hospital to cover the costs and straining its resources, thereby impacting care for other patients.

I strongly urge you to take action to address the issue of accessing healthcare insurance coverage. Doing so will enhance the overall health and well-being of individuals in our community, reduce healthcare costs, and ensure equitable access to necessary medical care.

Thank you for your consideration.

References

Crowley, R. A., & Bornstein, S. S. (2019). Improving the patient protection and affordable care act’s insurance coverage provisions: A position paper from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 170(9), 651. https://doi.org/10.7326/m18-3401

Haddad, L., & Geiger, R. (2020, January 1). Nursing ethical considerations. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30252310/

Kaiser Family Foundation. (2022, November 9). Status of state Medicaid expansion decisions: Interactive map. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/status-of-state-medicaid-expansion-decisions-interactive-map/

Raghupathi, V., & Raghupathi, W. (2020). The influence of education on health: An empirical assessment of OECD Countries for the period 1995–2015. Archives of Public Health, 78(1). https://archpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13690-020-00402-5

NHS FPX 6008 Assessment 4 Lobbying for Change

Stubbe, D. E. (2020). Practicing cultural competence and cultural humility in the care of diverse patients. FOCUS, 18(1), 49–51. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20190041

Tan, T. Q. (2019). Principles of inclusion, diversity, access, and equity. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 220(2), 30–32. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiz198

Tolbert, J., Orgera, K., Singer, N., & Damico, A. (2020). Key facts about uninsured adults in California: Estimates for 2018 and 2019. Kaiser Family Foundation. https://www.kff.org/uninsured/issue-brief/key-facts-about-uninsured-adults-in-california/

Tulane University. (2020, May 21). Why community health is important for public health. Publichealth.tulane.edu. https://publichealth.tulane.edu/blog/why-community-health-is-important-for-public-health/

WHO. (2021, April 1). Universal health coverage (UHC). Who.int; World Health Organization: WHO. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/universal-health-coverage-(uhc)

NHS FPX 6008 Assessment 4 Lobbying for Change