POL 210-001 EXAM 1 REVIEW

1) What is the impact of federalism on health policymaking in the United States?

• Federalism is a complex relationship between regional and federal governments that collaborate to improve the overall health of their citizens.

• The regional government implements policies that target specific detriments, and the federal policy sets a broad standard and funding, leading to a wide range of health outcomes.

2) Provide a correlation of the 10th amendment and states' governments influence on public health policy in the United States.

• The 10th Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, allowing them to tailor public health policies according to local needs.

• Autonomy enables states to innovate and experiment with health programs, but it can also result in disparities in health outcomes across the nation.

3) What is the policy process?

• The policy process refers to the series of steps that governments follow to create, implement, and evaluate policies.

• This process typically includes agenda setting, policy formulation, adoption, implementation, and evaluation, allowing for a structured approach to addressing public issues.

4) What is the impact of health policy on health determinants and health status?

• Health policy influences health determinants like access to care, quality of services, and health education, ultimately affecting the overall health status of populations.

• By addressing social, economic, and environmental factors, effective health policies can lead to improved health outcomes and reduced inequalities.

5) Health determinants, list them.

• Social and economic status

• Education

• Physical environment

• Genetics

• Access to healthcare

• Health behaviors

• Cultural factors

6) Types of Health Policy.

• Regulatory policies: These are designed to influence the actions of individuals and organizations through specific rules and regulations.

• Allocative policies: These involve the distribution of resources to various health services and programs, determining who gets what and how much.

• Public health policies: Focus on the health of populations and communities, addressing issues such as disease prevention and health promotion.

7) What is the most active area of federal legislation and federal government involvement in healthcare?

• Involvement in healthcare is the regulation of health insurance through programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which provide coverage for vulnerable populations.

8) Resources that are required to produce and distribute health services.

• These resources include a well-trained healthcare workforce, medical facilities, equipment, pharmaceuticals, and technology that enable effective delivery of care.

9) The process whereby the legislature, bureaucracy (government agencies), and interest groups actively interact with each other in the policy process is called what?

• policy-making process, which involves negotiation, collaboration, and sometimes conflict among these entities to shape public policies.

10) Which school of thought holds that interest groups play a very significant role in the public policymaking (health policymaking) process?

• Associated with the pluralist school of thought, it argues that a multitude of interest groups compete to influence policy outcomes.

• Ensuring that diverse viewpoints are represented in health policy decisions.

• This competition among interest groups can lead to more comprehensive and balanced health policies that reflect the needs and desires of various segments of society.

11) Who are suppliers of health policies?

• Suppliers of health policies typically include government agencies, non-profit organizations, private sector companies, and professional associations that develop, implement, and advocate for policy initiatives aimed at improving public health outcomes.

12) What factors are associated with access to care?

• Influenced by economic status, geographic location, availability of healthcare providers, insurance coverage, and social determinants such as education and transportation.

13) Differentiate between demanders and suppliers of health policy.

• Demanders are individuals or groups that seek to influence or advocate for changes in health policy to meet their needs, such as patients, healthcare professionals, and community organizations.

• Suppliers are those who create, implement, and enforce health policies, including government entities and health organizations.

14) Differentiate between dual federalism and cooperative federalism in the United States

policy arena.

• Dual federalism: a system where state and federal governments operate independently within their own spheres of authority, with minimal overlap.

• Cooperative federalism: an intertwined relationship where both levels of government work together to address issues and implement policies.

15) What is the impact of Interest groups in the health sector on the outcome of public

policymaking compared to other types of interest groups in the United States.

• Interest groups in the health sector, such as pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers, significantly influence public policymaking by lobbying for favorable regulations, funding research, and shaping public opinion, often resulting in more substantial impacts on health-related policies compared to interest groups in sectors like education or agriculture, where their influence may not be as pronounced.

16) Differentiate between dual federalism and cooperative federalism in the U.S. public health policy arena.

• Dual Federalism ("Layer Cake"): Federal and state governments operate independently, with clearly defined roles. Public health policies under this model have minimal federal intervention.

• Cooperative Federalism ("Marble Cake"): Federal, state, and local governments collaborate on public health policies, often sharing responsibilities and funding.

17) Situate the Affordable Care Act (ACA) within Cooperative Federalism, Interactive Federalism, and Dual Federalism.

• Cooperative Federalism: The ACA relies on federal and state collaboration, particularly in Medicaid expansion.

• Interactive Federalism: States implement ACA provisions with federal oversight while maintaining some autonomy in health exchanges.

• Dual Federalism: Some states resisted Medicaid expansion, reflecting a preference for state control over healthcare policy.

18) External environment does not pose any influence on the policymaking process in the U.S.

• False. External factors like public opinion, economic conditions, political climate, and interest groups significantly influence policymaking.

19) What is Punctuated Equilibrium Theory?

• A theory that suggests policymaking remains stable for long periods but can experience sudden, significant shifts when external pressures disrupt equilibrium.

20) What is Stages Heuristics Theory?

• A model that describes policymaking as a sequential process with distinct stages: problem identification, policy formulation, adoption, implementation, evaluation, and revision.

21) Core model phases of policymaking:

1. Problem Identification

2. Policy Formulation

3. Adoption (Legislation Development)

4. Implementation

5. Evaluation & Modification

22) What is agenda setting?

• The process of selecting and prioritizing issues for policy decision-making, influenced by media, public interest, and political actors.

23) Interest Groups' tactics to influence agenda setting and policy formulation:

• Lobbying, campaign contributions, public advocacy, litigation, research reports, and mobilizing public opinion.

24) What is the Rational Actor Model of decision-making in policy?

• A model where policymakers act as rational individuals who analyze all possible options and select the one that maximizes benefits while minimizing costs.

25) Three factors that must merge before an agenda can be set (Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Model):

1. Problem Stream – Identified issue requiring government intervention.

2. Policy Stream – Available solutions to address the issue.

3. Politics Stream – Political climate and public support.

• Author: John Kingdon.

26) Which actors are more likely to influence the agenda-setting process?

• Politicians, interest groups, lobbyists, media, bureaucrats, and public opinion leaders.

27) What is policymaking?

• Policymaking is the structured process through which governments create, implement, and modify policies to address public issues. It involves multiple actors, stages, and external influences.