I not less than 150 words discuss:
What have you learned that clarifies the positions and tools used by the various stakeholder groups to impact health care reform legislation?
In two different paragraph with not less than 75 words give your personal opinion to Abravi Sadji and Dianna Adair
Dianna Adair
I think the most important thing I have learned regarding clarification of the positions and tools used by stakeholder groups is not to overthink it when I am looking for that information. It is often simpler than it seems.
As an example, tools used by stakeholder groups could be a petition or an advertisement aimed at swaying public opinion. Those are simple and do not take a lot of effort to pull off, but still very useful tools in modifying a health policy (Longest, 2016).
As for positions, I think it is clear that many stakeholders use politicians in favorable positions to enact the changes they lobby for. Is it ethical? I do not think so. I do not believe that lobbying should exist at all, and that money should not be able to buy opinions. The decisions federal lawmakers make should be based on public need and benefit, not on the amount of dollars an interested party is willing to put towards their campaign or cause.
Congress shows sponsors for bills on its website to maintain clarity. It is up to the public to do a search on what affiliations each sponsor has. As an example, I discovered that the primary Republican congressman championing the Medicare Part D bill retired as soon as that term was up and accepted a CEO position making 2 million a year at a pharma company (Singer, 2007). It sours my opinion of government representatives.
Regards,
Dianna
References:
Longest, B. B. (2016). Health Policymaking in the United States (Vol. Sixth edition). Chicago, Illinois: Health Administration Press.
Singer, M. (2007). Under the influence: 60 Minutes’ Steve Kroft reports on drug lobbyists’ role in passing bill that keeps drug prices high. Retrieved from: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/under-the-influence/3/
Abravi Sadji
The various stakeholders groups to impact health care reform legislation include patients, physicians, employers, insurance companies, pharmaceutical firms and government” (Saint Joseph’s University, 2011). Insurance companies are responsible to for the patients’ health coverage plans by selling it directly to the patients or indirectly “through employer or governmental intermediaries” (Saint Joseph’s University, 2011). They also dictate the costs of services provided by health professionals. Many patients get health insurance coverage through their employers with varying deductibles and co-pays. Seniors, low-income or no income individuals and people with disabilities receive subsidized healthcare coverage from the government. Pharmaceutical companies make and sell medications, prescribed to patients by their physicians. The payments of these medications are covered “through insurance or governmental drug-benefit plans” (Saint Joseph’s University, 2011). Physicians provide medical care and patients are the recipients of the care.
Pharmaceutical and insurance companies have the duties to “maximize stockholder wealth” (Saint Joseph’s University, 2011). Every employer’s goal is to make money, however, the provision of health coverage to employees is not profitable. Although physicians receive payments for their services, they have a moral obligation towards the patients to act in their best interests because “patients have rights, duties and responsibilities” (Saint Joseph’s University, 2011).
Saint Joseph’s University. (2011). Health Care Reform: Duties and Responsibilities of the Stakeholders. Retrieved from https://sites.sju.edu/icb/health-care-reform-duties-and-responsibilities-of-the-stakeholders/