Running Head: The Policy Process The Policy Process University of Phoenix HCS 455 January 23, 2012 The reproductive Health Care policy for women is a policy that was created for all women. The policy provides services such as prevention, Contraceptives are offered in an array of choices, condoms, iUD, birth control pill, many are covered by Medicaid.
Medicaid is a state funded program that covers uninsured low income women and teens with family planning, including prevention, screening, exams and tests.Under this policy is the Pregnancy Discrimination Act or PDA. This act requires that the employer s insurance plan cover pregnancy related care with less co-pay. Medicaid is the main insurer to cover unwanted pregnancy in teens, Pregnancy in lower income women, today Medicaid accounts for 71% coverage, Federal Grants 16% and other state funds 13%.
The reproductive health care policy has two parts the federal policy and state policy. The federal policy has an amendment called the Hyde amendment which is focused on abortion.This amendment states that no federal dollars will be used for termination of pregnancy with few exceptions, like Rape, incest or saving the life of the mother. State policy concerning abortion is as follows states can place waiting periods on when someone can have an abortion, make an abortion available only with parents consent. Demanding that the person get an ultra sound so that the age of the fetus is confirmed. And a health care refusal is optional by state.
With every creation of a policy there are stages that are taken to make the policy be what it is. The formation stage is a stage in the policy process that is formulated on the basis of pertinent valid information and technical advice. It should consider all facets of the National Health Research programs within the context of National Health Programs (Who-Searo, 2006). With the formation process information is collected from Research program providers in the form of reviews and reports, case studies and other information.The information provided come from the following groups, Medical Research council, Ministry of health, professional medical/Health Associations, ministry of planning and finance, and non-governmental organization.
The current policy is reviewed and revised every five to six years to fit the countries needs and population. Implementation stage of the policy, there are key players when implementing the policy. Executive community of the policy formation body, health and medical councils and the ministry of health play a role in the implementation process.Each entity develops a plan in their area and with this take responsibility for implementation of their plan. Many factors take place in the implementation process.
First the policy must not face insurmountable outside restraints and should not exceed constitutional and judicial limits of the agencies involved. A time frame must be adequate as well as the resources, there must be sufficient resources and staff for the process reaches the goals. There should not be any flaws in the theory or policy and they must fit like a glove.All parties involved must have total agreement and understanding of the policy. Compliance and communication along with coordination with all agencies at federal and state levels.
After the policy is formed, implemented it is then faced with the legislative stage. This process starts where the policy is introduced to the Senate it is voted on then passed to the House once the house votes it is then signed by the president into law. Any changes by the house with the senate bill it then goes through the reconciliation bill, the house than votes again.It is then passed to the Senate vote, this is a preliminary ruling of the changes made then it is given back to the house to vote. Once the house passes it again it is then presented to the president where he signs it into law.
To summarize the three stages of policy making are formation, when specific areas of expertise are allowed to create a policy or idea to make it into policy by research and trials, implementation of the policy working out the bugs, making sure that everyone is on the same level and that what the policy will entail. And the legislative stage.Making the policy law by the senate, and house voting and revising the policy after the president signs the policy and negotiating with the president and senate leaders to come to a total agreement before actually making it a law. References Htwe, Myint, DR. Formation, Implementation and Evaluation of Health Research policy http://www.
searo. who. int Overview of the Health Reform Legislative Process- Final Stages. Kaiser Family Foundation 2010 http://facts. kff. org Slack, Brian Dr.
The Policy Process. The Geography of Transport Systems Ch. 9. Concept 2 http://people. hofstra. edu
