chapter 17 - policymaking for healthcare, environment, and energy

Life expectancy (U.S.)

Average lifespan is about 79 years

Infant mortality rate

Measure of babies who die within early years of life

Healthcare spending (U.S.)

Over $4.5 trillion annually

Fee-for-service insurance

Insurance where providers are paid for each service performed

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

Network providing healthcare for a fixed yearly fee

Employer-based insurance

Most common source of health coverage in the U.S. (about 55%)

Uninsured population

About 8% of Americans lacked coverage in 2020

National health insurance

Government-run program to cover all citizens (proposed but not adopted)

Medicare

Federal program providing healthcare mainly for older adults

Medicare Part A

Covers hospital care and short-term nursing

Medicare Part B

Covers doctor visits and outpatient services

Medicare Part D

Covers prescription drugs

Medicaid

Healthcare program for low-income individuals and families

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Covers uninsured children in low-income families

Affordable Care Act (2010)

Law expanding healthcare coverage and insurance access

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Federal agency enforcing environmental regulations

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Requires environmental impact statements for major federal actions

Environmental Impact Statement

Report on environmental effects of proposed government actions

Clean Air Act (1970)

Law regulating air pollution and protecting air quality

West Virginia v. EPA (2022)

Supreme Court case limiting EPA authority on emissions

Water Pollution Control Act (1972)

Law regulating water pollution from point sources

Point sources

Specific, identifiable sources of pollution

Endangered Species Act (1973)

Law protecting threatened and endangered species

Superfund

Federal program to clean up toxic waste sites

Nuclear waste

Long-lasting radioactive waste with no permanent U.S. storage solution

Not In My Backyard (NIMBY)

Opposition to local placement of unwanted facilities

Global warming

Rise in Earth’s temperature due to greenhouse gases

Greenhouse gases

Gases like CO2 that trap heat in the atmosphere

Climate policy (2022 law)

Provides incentives for clean energy and electric vehicles

Coal

Most abundant but dirtiest fossil fuel

Petroleum and natural gas

Fossil fuels that contribute to pollution and climate change

Strategic Petroleum Reserve

Emergency stockpile of crude oil

Fracking

Method of extracting oil and gas from rock formations

Nuclear energy

Controversial energy source with radioactive waste concerns

Renewable energy

Energy from natural sources like wind, solar, and water

Environmental interest groups

Groups advocating for environmental protection

Cost-benefit analysis

Evaluates policy by comparing costs and benefits

Economic vs environmental conflict

Tension between economic growth and environmental protection

Scope of government (health/environment)

Government role has expanded significantly in these areas

Interest groups (policy influence)

Play a major role in shaping healthcare and environmental policy