HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives
Week 1 Discussion
Key Characteristics of the U.S. Healthcare System
Initial Post
Cost, quality, and access are three pillars of the U.S. health system. Write about some of the key characteristics of the U.S. healthcare system related to cost, quality, and access. Your textbook and other learning materials for Week 1 are good resources for this assignment, but you can also use other sources.
For this discussion, you must refer to at least one article from a reputable newspaper (can be online) or other media source that is current (from the last month) and post the resource in APA format.
You must have at least two references in your initial post and the media source can be one of the two.
Summarize your post in 500 to 750 words.
Replies
Reply to at least two of your classmates. In your reply posts, include new information related to your peer’s initial post or to the topic. Each reply should be 200 to 400 words. You should cite one to two sources in your reply posts that add new information in response to your classmate’s post.
Please refer to the Grading Rubric for details on how this activity will be graded.
HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives
Week 2 Discussion
The Politics of Health Reform
Initial Post
Watch this week's videos and read the assignments in preparation for this discussion. You are encouraged to seek sources beyond the Learning Materials in Week 2 in this assignment.
While Republicans have not been unsuccessful so far in repealing the ACA, they have taken other steps to undermine it and have strongly opposed various Medicare for All proposals pending before Congress.
Democrats have proposed improvements in the ACA, and some have proposed the adoption of a "public" health insurance plan or adoption of a Medicare for All plan.
Using 500 to 750 words, write an initial post that describes the political alliances and positions by party and in the industry. In your analysis, include the financial arguments and the political/ideological arguments about the role of government versus the private sector changes that are intended to increase coverage. What do you think is the best way to improve health care coverage for all Americans? Why?
Cite additional sources beyond the Learning Materials for this week.
Replies
Reply to at least two of your classmates. In your reply, include new information related to your peer’s initial post or to the topic. Each reply should be 200 to 400 words. You should cite one to two sources in your reply posts that add new information in response to your classmate’s post.
Please refer to the Grading Rubric for details on how this activity will be graded.
HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives
Week 3 Discussion
Racial and Ethnic Disparities
Initial Post
Using 500 to 750 words, address the following:
What are the racial and ethnic health disparities in the United States, and why do they exist?
What are two policies to address racial and ethnic health disparities? Make clear if they are policies adopted, proposed, or ones you would recommend.
Cite additional sources beyond the Learning Materials for this week.
Replies
Reply to at least two of your classmates. In your reply posts, each reply should be 200 to 400 words. You should cite at least one to two sources that add new information in response to your classmate’s post.
Please refer to the Grading Rubric for details on how this activity will be graded.
HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives
Week 4 Discussion
Health Care Delivery Systems
Initial Post
Select one topic below to write about in your initial post. Please make it clearly which topic you chose to write about in your initial post. Write 500 to 750 words related to:
Topic 1: Choose one sector of health care delivery and financing that interests you (medical technology; outpatient and primary care services; inpatient facilities and services; managed care and integrated organizations; or long-term care). What are two challenges facing the sector you have chosen? What are two policies to address those challenges? What are the politics of those policy recommendations, if any? Make clear in your entry if they are policies already adopted; proposed/under consideration; and/or ones that you would recommend.
Topic 2: Discuss two challenges facing the health professions. What are two policies that would address those challenges? What are the politics of those policy recommendations, if any? You may write about the health professions in general or choose a specific health profession to write about. Make clear in your entry if they are policies already adopted; proposed or under consideration; and/or ones that you would recommend.
Cite additional sources beyond the Learning Materials for this week.
Replies
Reply to at least two of your classmates. In your reply posts, each reply should be on a topic different from the one you chose to write about. Each reply should be 200 to 400 words. You should cite at least one to two sources that add new information in response to your classmate’s post.
Please refer to the Grading Rubric for details on how this activity will be graded.
HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives
Week 5 Discussion
Cost and Quality
Initial Post
Select one topic below to write about in your initial post. Please make it clearly which topic you chose to write about in your initial post. Write 500 to 750 words related to:
Topic 1: Discuss two major reasons why health care costs are so high in the United States and recommend at least two public policies to control health care costs. Make clear in your entry if they are policies already adopted, proposed by others, and/or ones that you would propose.
Topic 2: Discuss at least two major reasons why health outcomes are poor in the United States compared to other first-world countries and recommend at least two public policies to improve health care quality. Make clear in your entry if they are policies already adopted, proposed by others, and/or ones that you would propose.
Cite additional sources beyond the Learning Materials for this week.
Replies
Reply to at least two of your classmates. In your reply posts, each reply should be on a topic different from the one you chose to write about. Each reply should be 200 to 400 words. You should cite at least one to two sources that add new information in response to your classmate’s post.
Please refer to the Grading Rubric for details on how this activity will be graded.
HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives
Week 6 Discussion
Pharmaceuticals and Behavioral Health
Initial Post
Select one topic below to write about in your initial post. Please make it clearly which topic you chose to write about in your initial post. Write 500 to 750 words related to:
Pharmaceuticals: What two public policies have been recently proposed or adopted to support proper access to medications for all consumers, fair pricing, and reasonable regulation of new drugs coming to market? Who are the private and public stakeholders? Name some organizations advocating for policy changes.
Behavioral Health: What two public policies have been recently proposed or adopted to improve access to behavioral health services and treatment? Who are the private and public stakeholders? Name some organizations pushing for policy changes.
Cite additional sources beyond the Learning Materials for this week.
Replies
Reply to at least two of your classmates. In your reply posts, each reply should be on a topic different from the one you chose to write about. Each reply should be 200 to 400 words. You should cite at least one to two sources that add new information in response to your classmate’s post.
Please refer to the Grading Rubric for details on how this activity will be graded.
HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives
Week 7 Discussion
What are the Next Big Issues in Health Policy?
Initial Post
Using 500 to 750 words, address the following:
Describe your topic and why you chose it.
What is the expected impact of your topic on population health within the next five years?
Cite additional sources beyond the Learning Materials for this week.
Replies
Reply to at least two of your classmates. In your reply posts, select two peers’ posts that address a policy other than the one you chose. In 200 to 400 words, explain how you think their policy will impact access to care and costs. You should cite at least one to two sources that add new information in response to your classmate’s post.
Please refer to the Grading Rubric for details on how this activity will be graded.
HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives
Week 8 Discussion
Oral Testimony
Initial Post
For this assignment, you will complete a video of your testimony. Do not read your testimony. Here are some sources that will help you understand the public hearing and legislative process:
Video—Tips on Testifying Before a Legislative Committee
Tips on Testifying Before a Legislative Committee Video Transcript
Video—Example of Oral Testimony Mass. Gov. Baker on Comprehensive Health Care Legislation
Governor Baker, Secretary Sudders Testify on Administration’s Comprehensive Health Care Legislation Video Transcript
Video—Example of Oral Testimony at Vermont Public Hearing
Joint Legislative Committee Hearing on Health Care Part 1 Video Transcript
Video—Example of Testimony and Public Hearing—US Senate Hearing on Health Care Costs
Videos and Testimony—Pathways to Universal Coverage
Example 1 of Written Testimony (Word)
Example 2 of Written Testimony (Word)
To create your video:
Your video should be 2.5 to 3 minutes in length.
Use the Zoom Tutorial to create your video using Zoom. Refer to the Making a Video in Zoom (Word) document for more information.
When your video is complete, use the YouTube instructions to create an unlisted video URL.
Post the YouTube video URL to this discussion.
Remember, this is a discussion board, so everyone will be able to see your assignment.
Please refer to the Grading Rubric for details on how this activity will be graded.
HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives
Week 2 Assignment
Health Policy Event
Instructions
The Health Policy Event you choose to attend must be related to the current week’s topics.
Please submit your Health Policy Event Log for Week 2 in one Word document to this assignment. Access the Guidelines for the Health Policy Event Assignment (Word) for full instructions.
Links to Health Policy Events for this Week
Suggested Health Policy Forums related to Week 2 topics from the Harvard School of Public Health and/or the Boston University School of Public Health listed in the Week 2 Financing and Access Videos (Word) document.
Explore more recent Harvard School of Public Health Forums.
Explore more recent Boston University School of Public Health Forums.
Explore the webinars of the Annenberg Center for Health Journalism.
Explore the webinars of the American Public Health Association.
Explore the webinars of The Commonwealth Fund.
Explore the webinars of Families USA.
If you find another event you are interested in attending related to the current week’s topics but are unsure if it would be eligible, email your instructor and ask.
Please refer to the Grading Rubric for details on how this activity will be graded.
In Weeks 2–7, you must virtually attend a policy event that is at least approximately 1 hour or longer in length, related to the week’s topic.Virtual health policy events are posted for each weekly modulefrom which you may choose. In addition, you may also identify your own policy event related to the week’s topics.All events selected must have a health policy focus and be relevant to the week’s topics. Events that have primarily a clinical focus are not acceptable. Because events must be relevant to current health policy issues, they should have taken place within the past 3 years. If you are interested in selecting your own event or one that is older thanyears, check with your instructor firstto make sure the event meets the criteria for this assignment.
If you select your own event, you may consider a local Board of Health meeting a legislative or executive branch hearing or meeting on a health policy issue, a meeting by advocacy organization or special interest group, or a meeting of a political party, political group, or political candidate in which a health policy issue is discussed.
Policy Log Guidelines
As a way of demonstrating completion of this course requirement, you must submit, in writing, a policylog that detail certain aspects of each event.
• Each event log should be 2–3 double-spaced pages of text.
• Provide only a brief summary of the topic being discussed (3–5 sentences).
• Your analysis section should be 500 to 750 wordsand be the most developed component of the report. In the analysis section, you can write about the process of policy being made at this event, and/or you can write about the actual health policy issue being discussed/considered. This should primarily be your analysis, and if you refer to an analysis made by an event participant, make that clear in your log.Your analysis should include new information that goes beyond what was discussed in the event.
• Your analysis should integrate course content and readings. Reference at least two sourcesfrom the learning materials in this course or other sources which may include scholarly sources, health policy reports or recent media articles.
• Use APA format for citations and references.
HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives
Week 3 Assignment
Health Policy Event
Instructions
The Health Policy Event you choose to attend must be related to the current week’s topics.
Please submit your Health Policy Event Log for Week 3 in one Word document to this assignment. Access the Guidelines for the Health Policy Event Assignment (Word) for full instructions.
Links to Health Policy Events for this Week
Suggested Health Policy Forums related to Week 3 topics from the Harvard School of Public Health and/or the Boston University School of Public Health listed in the Week 3 Public Health & Health Disparities Videos (Word) document.
Explore more recent Harvard School of Public Health Forums.
Explore more recent Boston University School of Public Health Forums.
Explore the webinars of the Annenberg Center for Health Journalism.
Explore the webinars of the American Public Health Association.
Explore the webinars of The Commonwealth Fund.
Explore the webinars of Families USA.
If you find another event you are interested in attending related to the current week’s topics but are unsure if it would be eligible, email your instructor and ask.
Please refer to the Grading Rubric for details on how this activity will be graded.
In Weeks 2–7, you must virtually attend a policy event that is at least approximately 1 hour or longer in length, related to the week’s topic.Virtual health policy events are posted for each weekly modulefrom which you may choose. In addition, you may also identify your own policy event related to the week’s topics.All events selected must have a health policy focus and be relevant to the week’s topics. Events that have primarily a clinical focus are not acceptable. Because events must be relevant to current health policy issues, they should have taken place within the past 3 years. If you are interested in selecting your own event or one that is older thanyears, check with your instructor firstto make sure the event meets the criteria for this assignment.
If you select your own event, you may consider a local Board of Health meeting a legislative or executive branch hearing or meeting on a health policy issue, a meeting by advocacy organization or special interest group, or a meeting of a political party, political group, or political candidate in which a health policy issue is discussed.
Policy Log Guidelines
As a way of demonstrating completion of this course requirement, you must submit, in writing, a policylog that detail certain aspects of each event.
• Each event log should be 2–3 double-spaced pages of text.
• Provide only a brief summary of the topic being discussed (3–5 sentences).
• Your analysis section should be 500 to 750 wordsand be the most developed component of the report. In the analysis section, you can write about the process of policy being made at this event, and/or you can write about the actual health policy issue being discussed/considered. This should primarily be your analysis, and if you refer to an analysis made by an event participant, make that clear in your log.Your analysis should include new information that goes beyond what was discussed in the event.
• Your analysis should integrate course content and readings. Reference at least two sourcesfrom the learning materials in this course or other sources which may include scholarly sources, health policy reports or recent media articles.
• Use APA format for citations and references.
HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives
Week 4 Assignment
Health Policy Event
Instructions
The Health Policy Event you choose to attend must be related to the current week’s topics.
Please submit your Health Policy Event Log for Week 4 in one Word document to this assignment. Access the Guidelines for the Health Policy Event Assignment (Word) for full instructions.
Links to Health Policy Events for this Week
Suggested Health Policy Forums related to Week 4 topics from the Harvard School of Public Health and/or the Boston University School of Public Health listed in the Week 4 Health Care Delivery Videos (Word) document.
Explore more recent Harvard School of Public Health Forums.
Explore more recent Boston University School of Public Health Forums.
Explore the webinars of the Annenberg Center for Health Journalism.
Explore the webinars of the American Public Health Association.
Explore the webinars of The Commonwealth Fund.
Explore the webinars of Families USA.
If you find another event you are interested in attending related to the current week’s topics but are unsure if it would be eligible, email your instructor and ask.
Please refer to the Grading Rubric for details on how this activity will be graded.
In Weeks 2–7, you must virtually attend a policy event that is at least approximately 1 hour or longer in length, related to the week’s topic.Virtual health policy events are posted for each weekly modulefrom which you may choose. In addition, you may also identify your own policy event related to the week’s topics.All events selected must have a health policy focus and be relevant to the week’s topics. Events that have primarily a clinical focus are not acceptable. Because events must be relevant to current health policy issues, they should have taken place within the past 3 years. If you are interested in selecting your own event or one that is older thanyears, check with your instructor firstto make sure the event meets the criteria for this assignment.
If you select your own event, you may consider a local Board of Health meeting a legislative or executive branch hearing or meeting on a health policy issue, a meeting by advocacy organization or special interest group, or a meeting of a political party, political group, or political candidate in which a health policy issue is discussed.
Policy Log Guidelines
As a way of demonstrating completion of this course requirement, you must submit, in writing, a policylog that detail certain aspects of each event.
• Each event log should be 2–3 double-spaced pages of text.
• Provide only a brief summary of the topic being discussed (3–5 sentences).
• Your analysis section should be 500 to 750 wordsand be the most developed component of the report. In the analysis section, you can write about the process of policy being made at this event, and/or you can write about the actual health policy issue being discussed/considered. This should primarily be your analysis, and if you refer to an analysis made by an event participant, make that clear in your log.Your analysis should include new information that goes beyond what was discussed in the event.
• Your analysis should integrate course content and readings. Reference at least two sourcesfrom the learning materials in this course or other sources which may include scholarly sources, health policy reports or recent media articles.
• Use APA format for citations and references.
HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives
Week 5 Assignment
Health Policy Event
Instructions
The Health Policy Event you choose to attend must be related to the current week’s topics.
Please submit your Health Policy Event Log for Week 5 in one Word document to this assignment. Access the Guidelines for the Health Policy Event Assignment (Word) for full instructions.
Links to Health Policy Events for this Week
Suggested Health Policy Forums related to Week 5 topics from the Harvard School of Public Health and/or the Boston University School of Public Health listed in the Week 5 Cost and Quality Videos (Word) document.
Explore more recent Harvard School of Public Health Forums.
Explore more recent Boston University School of Public Health Forums.
Explore the webinars of the Annenberg Center for Health Journalism.
Explore the webinars of the American Public Health Association
Explore the webinars of The Commonwealth Fund.
Explore the webinars of Families USA.
If you find another event you are interested in attending related to the current week’s topics but are unsure if it would be eligible, email your instructor and ask.
Please refer to the Grading Rubric for details on how this activity will be graded.
In Weeks 2–7, you must virtually attend a policy event that is at least approximately 1 hour or longer in length, related to the week’s topic.Virtual health policy events are posted for each weekly modulefrom which you may choose. In addition, you may also identify your own policy event related to the week’s topics.All events selected must have a health policy focus and be relevant to the week’s topics. Events that have primarily a clinical focus are not acceptable. Because events must be relevant to current health policy issues, they should have taken place within the past 3 years. If you are interested in selecting your own event or one that is older thanyears, check with your instructor firstto make sure the event meets the criteria for this assignment.
If you select your own event, you may consider a local Board of Health meeting a legislative or executive branch hearing or meeting on a health policy issue, a meeting by advocacy organization or special interest group, or a meeting of a political party, political group, or political candidate in which a health policy issue is discussed.
Policy Log Guidelines
As a way of demonstrating completion of this course requirement, you must submit, in writing, a policylog that detail certain aspects of each event.
• Each event log should be 2–3 double-spaced pages of text.
• Provide only a brief summary of the topic being discussed (3–5 sentences).
• Your analysis section should be 500 to 750 wordsand be the most developed component of the report. In the analysis section, you can write about the process of policy being made at this event, and/or you can write about the actual health policy issue being discussed/considered. This should primarily be your analysis, and if you refer to an analysis made by an event participant, make that clear in your log.Your analysis should include new information that goes beyond what was discussed in the event.
• Your analysis should integrate course content and readings. Reference at least two sourcesfrom the learning materials in this course or other sources which may include scholarly sources, health policy reports or recent media articles.
• Use APA format for citations and references.
HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives
Week 6 Assignment
Health Policy Event
Instructions
The Health Policy Event you choose to attend must be related to the current week’s topics.
Please submit your Health Policy Event Log for Week 6 in one Word document to this assignment. Access the Guidelines for the Health Policy Event Assignment (Word) for full instructions.
Links to Health Policy Events for this Week
Suggested Health Policy Forums related to Week 6 topics from the Harvard School of Public Health and/or the Boston University School of Public Health listed in the Week 6 Behavioral Health and Pharmaceutical Policy Videos (Word) document.
Explore more recent Harvard School of Public Health Forums.
Explore more recent Boston University School of Public Health Forums.
Explore the webinars of the Annenberg Center for Health Journalism.
Explore the webinars of the American Public Health Association.
Explore the webinars of The Commonwealth Fund
Explore the webinars of Families USA.
If you find another event you are interested in attending related to the current week’s topics but are unsure if it would be eligible, email your instructor and ask.
Please refer to the Grading Rubric for details on how this activity will be graded.
In Weeks 2–7, you must virtually attend a policy event that is at least approximately 1 hour or longer in length, related to the week’s topic.Virtual health policy events are posted for each weekly modulefrom which you may choose. In addition, you may also identify your own policy event related to the week’s topics.All events selected must have a health policy focus and be relevant to the week’s topics. Events that have primarily a clinical focus are not acceptable. Because events must be relevant to current health policy issues, they should have taken place within the past 3 years. If you are interested in selecting your own event or one that is older thanyears, check with your instructor firstto make sure the event meets the criteria for this assignment.
If you select your own event, you may consider a local Board of Health meeting a legislative or executive branch hearing or meeting on a health policy issue, a meeting by advocacy organization or special interest group, or a meeting of a political party, political group, or political candidate in which a health policy issue is discussed.
Policy Log Guidelines
As a way of demonstrating completion of this course requirement, you must submit, in writing, a policylog that detail certain aspects of each event.
• Each event log should be 2–3 double-spaced pages of text.
• Provide only a brief summary of the topic being discussed (3–5 sentences).
• Your analysis section should be 500 to 750 wordsand be the most developed component of the report. In the analysis section, you can write about the process of policy being made at this event, and/or you can write about the actual health policy issue being discussed/considered. This should primarily be your analysis, and if you refer to an analysis made by an event participant, make that clear in your log.Your analysis should include new information that goes beyond what was discussed in the event.
• Your analysis should integrate course content and readings. Reference at least two sourcesfrom the learning materials in this course or other sources which may include scholarly sources, health policy reports or recent media articles.
• Use APA format for citations and references.
HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives
Week 7 Assignment
Health Policy Event
Instructions
The Health Policy Event you choose to attend must be related to the current week’s topics.
Please submit your Health Policy Event Log for Week 7 in one Word document to this assignment. Access the Guidelines for the Health Policy Event Assignment (Word) for full instructions.
Links to Health Policy Events for this Week
Suggested Health Policy Forums related to Week 7 topics from the Harvard School of Public Health and/or the Boston University School of Public Health listed in the Week 7 Future Videos (Word) document.
Explore more recent Harvard School of Public Health Forums.
Explore more recent Boston University School of Public Health Forums.
Explore the webinars of the Annenberg Center for Health Journalism.
Explore the webinars of the American Public Health Association.
Explore the webinars of The Commonwealth Fund
Explore the webinars of Families USA.
If you find another event you are interested in attending related to the current week’s topics but are unsure if it would be eligible, email your instructor and ask.
Please refer to the Grading Rubric for details on how this activity will be graded.
In Weeks 2–7, you must virtually attend a policy event that is at least approximately 1 hour or longer in length, related to the week’s topic.Virtual health policy events are posted for each weekly modulefrom which you may choose. In addition, you may also identify your own policy event related to the week’s topics.All events selected must have a health policy focus and be relevant to the week’s topics. Events that have primarily a clinical focus are not acceptable. Because events must be relevant to current health policy issues, they should have taken place within the past 3 years. If you are interested in selecting your own event or one that is older thanyears, check with your instructor firstto make sure the event meets the criteria for this assignment.
If you select your own event, you may consider a local Board of Health meeting a legislative or executive branch hearing or meeting on a health policy issue, a meeting by advocacy organization or special interest group, or a meeting of a political party, political group, or political candidate in which a health policy issue is discussed.
Policy Log Guidelines
As a way of demonstrating completion of this course requirement, you must submit, in writing, a policylog that detail certain aspects of each event.
• Each event log should be 2–3 double-spaced pages of text.
• Provide only a brief summary of the topic being discussed (3–5 sentences).
• Your analysis section should be 500 to 750 wordsand be the most developed component of the report. In the analysis section, you can write about the process of policy being made at this event, and/or you can write about the actual health policy issue being discussed/considered. This should primarily be your analysis, and if you refer to an analysis made by an event participant, make that clear in your log.Your analysis should include new information that goes beyond what was discussed in the event.
• Your analysis should integrate course content and readings. Reference at least two sourcesfrom the learning materials in this course or other sources which may include scholarly sources, health policy reports or recent media articles.
• Use APA format for citations and references.
HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives
Week 8 Assignment
State and Federal Government
Instructions
Identify your state and federal representatives (State: Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, State Representative, State Senator; Federal: Members of Congress: US Representative, US Senators) with a brief description of each. Write 200–400 words about how your state government operates and include a link to your state government website, your Governor’s state website, and the website of your state legislator.
Helpful Links:
Find your US Representative
U.S. Senate: States in the Senate
HP609 Health Policy, Politics, and Perspectives
Week 8 Assignment
Written Testimony
Instructions
Refer to the Written and Oral Testimony Guide (Word) for information about how to complete this assignment.
Please refer to the Grading Rubric for details on how this activity will be graded.
