Assignment: Legislation Comparison Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement
As a nurse, how often have you thought to yourself, If I had anything to do about it, things would work a little differently? Increasingly, nurses are beginning to realize that they do, in fact, have a role and a voice.
Many nurses encounter daily experiences that motivate them to take on an advocacy role in hopes of impacting policies, laws, or regulations that impact healthcare issues of interest. Of course, doing so means entering the less familiar world of policy and politics. While many nurses do not initially feel prepared to operate in this space effectively, the reward is the opportunity to shape and influence future health policy. Legislation Advocacy Statement Essay Paper
To Prepare:
Select a bill that has been proposed (not one that has been enacted) using the congressional websites provided in the Learning Resources.
The Assignment: (1- to 2-page Comparison Grid; 1- to 2-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement)
Part 1: Legislation Comparison Grid
Based on the health-related bill (proposed, not enacted) you selected, complete the Legislation Comparison Grid Template. Be sure to address the following:
Determine the legislative intent of the bill you have reviewed.
Identify the proponents/opponents of the bill.
Identify the target populations addressed by the bill.
Where in the process is the bill currently? Is it in hearings or committees?
Is it receiving press coverage?
Part 2: Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement
Based on the health-related bill you selected, develop a 1- to 2-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement that addresses the following:
Advocate a position for the bill you selected and write testimony in support of your position.
Describe how you would address the opponent to your position. Be specific and provide examples.
Recommend at least one amendment to the bill in support of your position.

Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement

The American government has always focused on improving access to healthcare. Nonetheless, healthcare cost takes a huge portion of the American budget. Various health insurance programs have been implemented to improve access to care, facilitate universal coverage, and also improve access to healthcare information (Milstead & Short, 2019). Mobile Health Record Act of 2019 aims to enhance access to healthcare information using novice technology. According to Rajkomar et al (2018), mobile health records applications should be able to provide scalability, usefulness, and improve care provision and health outcomes.  Legislation Advocacy Statement Essay Paper

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However, the key question is whether the mobile application that facilitates access to health information has the ability to improve the healthcare outcomes, ensure quality care, without significant costs. However, evidence indicates that electronic health records, internet platforms, and smart technologies facilitate the flow of health information access healthcare providers and organizations.  Therefore, if this can be attained at a persona level, the patient can be involved in their care, facilitate individualized treatment, and support patients in making informed medical decisions. Legislation Advocacy Statement Essay Paper

Opposing the Mobile Health Record Act of 2019 is only logical if evidence shows that technology cannot improve access to care or lead to improved care outcomes. However, evidence indicates that technology platforms such as electronic health records, patient portals, and telehealth significantly contributes to a better quality of care and improved access to care (Evans, 2016). Therefore, the proposed mobile application platform proposed in this bill can also be effective in improving the sharing of health information between healthcare providers and patients.

However, just like other information technology platforms in healthcare are susceptible to ethical concerns such as confidentiality and privacy of patient’s information, the proposed mobile application platform faces similar ethical concerns (Kruse et al., 2018). The privacy and confidentiality concerns with the proposed mobile application are worsened by the involvement of third-party vendors who may use the patient information for other purposes. Therefore, it is important for legislators to integrate amendments in this bill, clarifying the rights to access, accountability, liabilities, and duties of all individuals and parties participating in the input, storage, and sharing of the patient’s health information.

References

Evans R. S. (2016). Electronic Health Records: Then, Now, and in the Future. Yearbook of medical informatics, Suppl 1(Suppl 1), S48–S61. https://doi.org/10.15265/IYS-2016-s006.

Kruse, C. S., Stein, A., Thomas, H., & Kaur, H. (2018). The use of Electronic Health Records to Support Population Health: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Journal of medical systems, 42(11), 214. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-018-1075-6.

Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Rajkomar, A., Oren, E., Chen, K., Dai, A. M., Hajaj, N., Hardt, M & Sundberg, P. (2018). Scalable and accurate deep learning with electronic health records. NPJ Digital Medicine, 1(1), 18.

H.R.1390 – Mobile Health Record Act of 2019  Legislation Advocacy Statement Essay Paper