Choose one health policy model from the following: kindon’s policy stream model or stage-sequential model or Richmond-Kotelchuck Model or Local Public Health Policy Model. After choosing one, discuss a policy in health care that was implemented using the particular model. Note why this particular policy meets the requirements of the model it represents and what Constitutional or U.S. government powers were instrumental in this policy. Must be 325 words and at least 3 scholarly cited sources – APA.
The policy model I have chosen for this assignment is the Kingdon’s Policy Stream Model. Developed by John Kingdon, this model focuses on three streams – the problem stream, the policy stream, and the political stream. According to Kingdon, the convergence of these three streams can lead to policy change.
An example of a policy in healthcare that was implemented using Kingdon’s Policy Stream Model is the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in the United States. The problem stream in this case was the issue of skyrocketing healthcare costs and the growing number of uninsured Americans. The policy stream involved the development of a comprehensive healthcare reform plan that aimed to address these issues. Finally, the political stream was characterized by the election of President Barack Obama, who made healthcare reform a key priority for his administration.
The ACA meets the requirements of Kingdon’s Policy Stream Model for several reasons. First, it effectively addressed the identified problem of rising healthcare costs and the lack of access to affordable healthcare for millions of Americans. The ACA introduced various provisions, such as the establishment of health insurance exchanges, expansion of Medicaid, and the implementation of insurance market reforms, aimed at increasing access to affordable healthcare and reducing costs.
Second, the ACA had a clear policy window, which refers to a favorable political environment that allows for policy change. The 2008 presidential election brought forth political leaders who were committed to healthcare reform, including President Obama. Moreover, the Democrats had control of both houses of Congress, providing a conducive political climate for policy change. This alignment of the problem and policy streams with the political stream created an opportunity for the passage of the ACA.
The powers of the U.S. government played a crucial role in the implementation of the ACA. The Constitution granted the federal government the power to regulate commerce among the states, which was utilized to enforce insurance market reforms, such as the prohibition of denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. The government’s power to tax was also instrumental in enforcing the individual mandate, a key component of the ACA that required individuals to have health insurance or face a penalty.
Additionally, the U.S. government’s power to provide for the general welfare of its citizens was invoked to justify the expansion of Medicaid, which aimed to ensure access to affordable healthcare for low-income individuals. This decision was supported by the Supreme Court in the 2012 case National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, where the Court ruled that the federal government could not withhold Medicaid funding from states that chose not to expand their Medicaid programs.
In conclusion, the ACA serves as an example of a healthcare policy that was implemented using Kingdon’s Policy Stream Model. It effectively addressed the problem of high healthcare costs and lack of access to affordable healthcare, while benefiting from a favorable political environment that allowed for policy change. The powers of the U.S. government, including the power to regulate commerce and provide for the general welfare, were instrumental in implementing various provisions of the ACA.