Legislation Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement
Health-related Bill Name | Advancing Connectivity during the Coronavirus to Ensure Support for Seniors (ACCESS) Act |
Bill Number | S. 3517 |
Description | This is a bill that was introduced by Senators Klobuchar, Casey, and Capito. Its purpose is to safeguard seniors, who are the most susceptible demographic to Coronavirus disease, by enabling them to get medical treatment from a distance and maintain virtual connections with their families and friends. The act establishes a novel funding source and invests significantly in already established telemedicine services in order to link seniors with their families and friends via the use of virtual visitation. |
Federal or State | Federal |
Legislative Intent | The intention of this bill is to allocate more funds for telemedicine initiatives at senior nursing homes and other long-term care institutions. In this way, seniors will be protected from COVID-19 and still being able to communicate with their family members via virtual visitation. The increased availability of telemedicine services in nursing homes will make it possible for patients to obtain medical treatment in the form of online consultations with medical personnel, thus protecting them from the infectious disease.
To be more specific, the Act would first provide the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Telehealth Resource Center permission to receive an emergency supplementary allocation of fifty million dollars. This would make it easier for nursing homes to qualify for financing via Medicaid or Medicare and extend their usage of telemedicine services. It also mandates that the HHS provide guidelines on how nursing homes might better use telemedicine services during the disease outbreak. In addition to this, this bill would create a grant program that would provide the Department of Health and Human Services the authority to give funding to nursing homes so that patients might have the opportunity to engage in virtual visits with their loved ones. |
Proponents/ Opponents | Proponents: Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Congressman Peter King
Opponents: None |
Target Population | Nursing homes, long-term care facilities |
Status of the bill | On January 28th, 2021, the bill was presented for the first time in the House of Representatives, and it has since had two rounds of reading and been submitted to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. |
General Notes/Comments | It is evident that this act promotes nondiscrimination and quality. Persons of a more advanced age enjoy the same rights to health as people of any other age, such as the ability to obtain information, treatment, and health care on an equal footing. |
Advocacy Statement
The ACCESS Act has my full and unwavering support. Because of the strict steps that are being taken to limit COVID-19, multitudes of people who live in nursing homes throughout the nation are experiencing increased levels of dread, isolation, and feelings of loneliness. Because of the limitations placed on visits, people have been deprived of the opportunity to bid their last goodbyes to their grandparents. The years that were supposed to be golden sunset years spent close to family and friends have instead been transformed into dreary days plagued with sadness and despair.
According to the findings of many studies, senior citizens are at an increased risk of developing the most severe type of COVID-19 (Mehdi et al., 2022). Because of this, the rate of sickness and death among people of this age has grown. The ACCESS Act attempts to alleviate this problem by expanding investments in telemedicine services in order to make it easier for patients to consult with their doctors through virtual visits.
Taking a first glance at 50 million dollars, it may seem as if this is an excessively high sum to spend on something as easy as visits to a senior care center. However, the expense of permitting physical visitations to nursing home residents or deciding to segregate the patients from the rest of the world would eventually have considerably greater implications for the residents’ overall health (Ahmed et al., 2020). The authorities responsible for executing the legislation must guarantee that an equitable allocation mechanism is developed in order to guarantee that the monies go to nursing facilities that are the most in need. Legislation Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement Essay
References
Ahmed, S., Sanghvi, K., & Yeo, D. (2020). Telemedicine takes centre stage during COVID-19 pandemic. BMJ Innovations, 6(4), 252-254. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjinnov-2020-000440
Mehdi, S. M., Meyers, B., Nathanson, M., & Devanand, D. P. (2022). Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of geriatric residents in long-term care facilities. GeroPsych. https://doi.org/10.1024/1662-9647/a000284
Module 4
Library Resources
Klein, K. J., & Sorra, J. S. (1996). The challenge of innovation implementation. Academy of Management Review, 21(4), 1055–1080.
Sacristán, J., & Dilla, T. D. (2015). No big data without small data: Learning health care systems begin and end with the individual patient. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 21(6), 1014–1017.
Tummers, L., & Bekkers, V. (2014). Policy implementation, street level bureaucracy, and the importance of discretion. Public Management Review, 16(4), 527–547.
Required Readings
Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
American Nurses Association (ANA). (n.d.). Advocacy. Retrieved September 20, 2018, from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/advocacy/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (n.d.). Step by step: Evaluating violence and injury prevention policies: Brief 4: Evaluating policy implementation. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/injury/pdfs/policy/Brief%204-a.pdf
Congress.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2018, from https://www.congress.gov/
Required Media
Walden University, LLC. (Producer). (2018). Getting your Program Designed and Implemented [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Accessible player
Walden University, LLC. (Producer). (2018). Health policy and politics [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author. Legislation Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement Essay
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Excellent | Good | Fair | Poor | |
Federal and State Legislation
Part 1: Legislation Grid
Based on the health- related bill you selected, complete the Legislation Grid Template. Be sure to address the following:
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Points Range:32 (32.00%) – 35 (35.00%)
The response clearly and accurately summarizes in detail the legislative intent of the health- related bill. The response accurately identifies in detail the proponents and opponents of the health-related bill. The response accurately identifies in detail the populations targeted by the health-related bill. The response clearly and thoroughly describes in detail the current status of the health- related bill. |
Points Range:28 (28.00%) – 31 (31.00%)
The response accurately summarizes the legislative intent of the health-related bill. The response accurately identifies the proponents and opponents of the health-related bill. The response accurately identifies the populations targeted by the health-related bill. The response accurately describes the current status of the health-related bill. |
Points Range:25 (25.00%) – 27 (27.00%)
The response vaguely or inaccurately summarizes the legislative intent of the health-related bill. The response vaguely or inaccurately identifies the proponents and opponents of the health-related bill. The response vaguely or inaccurately identifies the populations targeted by the health-related bill. The response vaguely or inaccurately describes the current status of the health-related bill. |
Points Range:0 (0.00%) – 24 (24.00%)
Summary of the legislative intent of the health-related bill is vague and inaccurate or is missing. Identification of the proponents and opponents of the health-related bill are vague and inaccurate or is missing. Identification of the populations targeted by the health-related bill is vague and inaccurate or is missing. The description of the current status of the health- related bill is vague and inaccurate or is missing. |
Part 2: Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement
Based on the health- related bill you selected, develop a 1- page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement that addresses the following:
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Points Range:36 (36.00%) – 40 (40.00%)
Testimony clearly, accurately, and thoroughly provides statements that fully justifies a position for a health-related bill. Response provides a detailed, thorough, and logical explanation of how to address opponents to the position for the health-related bill and includes one or more clear and accurate supporting examples. |
Points Range:32 (32.00%) – 35 (35.00%)
Testimony clearly and accurately provides statements that somewhat justifies a position for a health-related bill. Response provides an accurate explanation of how to address opponents to the position for the health-related bill and may include at least one supporting example. |
Points Range:28 (28.00%) – 31 (31.00%)
Testimony used to justify a position for a health-related bill is vague or inaccurate. Explanation of how to address the opponents to the position for the health-related bill is vague or inaccurate, lacks logic, and/or the supporting examples are vague or inaccurate. |
Points Range:0 (0.00%) – 27 (27.00%)
Testimony used to justify a position for a health-related bill is vague and inaccurate, incomplete, or is missing. Explanation of how to address the opponents to the position for the health-related bill is vague and inaccurate or is missing. |
References | Points Range:10 (10.00%) – 10 (10.00%)
Response includes 3 or more course resources and 2 or more outside sources. |
Points Range:8 (8.00%) – 8 (8.00%)
Response includes 2-3 course resources and 2 outside sources. |
Points Range:7 (7.00%) – 7 (7.00%)
Response includes fewer than 2 course resources and/or fewer than 2 outside resources. |
Points Range:0 (0.00%) – 6 (6.00%)
Response includes 2 or fewer resources. |
Written Expression and Formatting—Paragraph Development and Organization Paragraphs make clear points that support well developed ideas, low logically, and demonstrate continuity of ideas. Sentences are carefully focused– neither long and rambling nor short and lacking substance. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement and introduction is provided which delineates all required criteria. | Points Range:5 (5.00%) – 5 (5.00%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement, introduction, and conclusion is provided which delineates all required criteria. |
Points Range:4 (4.00%) – 4 (4.00%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 80% of the time. Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is stated, yet is brief and not descriptive |
Points Range:3 (3.00%) – 3 (3.00%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 60%- 79% of the time. Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is vague or off topic. |
Points Range:0 (0.00%) – 2 (2.00%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity < 60% of the time. Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is incomplete or missing. |
Written Expression and Formatting: English Writing Standards Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation. | Points Range:5 (5.00%) – 5 (5.00%)
Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation with no errors. |
Points Range:4 (4.00%) – 4 (4.00%)
Contains a few (1-2) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. |
Points Range:3 (3.00%) – 3 (3.00%)
Contains several (3-4) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. |
Points Range:0 (0.00%) – 2 (2.00%)
Contains many (≥5) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors that interfere with the reader’s understanding. |
Written Expression and Formatting: The paper follows correct APA format for title page, font, spacing, indentations, parenthetical/in-text citations, and reference list. | Points Range:5 (5.00%) – 5 (5.00%)
Uses correct APA format with no errors. |
Points Range:4 (4.00%) – 4 (4.00%)
Contains a few (1-2) APA format errors. |
Points Range:3 (3.00%) – 3 (3.00%)
Contains several (3-4) APA format errors. |
Points Range:0 (0.00%) – 2 (2.00%)
Contains many (≥5) APA format errors. |
Assignment: Legislation 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.
To Prepare:
The Assignment: (1- to 2-page Legislation Grid; 1-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement)
Be sure to add a title page, an introduction, purpose statement, and a conclusion. This is an APA paper.
Part 1: Legislation Grid
Based on the health-related bill (proposed, not enacted) you selected, complete the Legislation Grid Template. Be sure to address the following:
Part 2: Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement
Based on the health-related bill you selected, develop a 1-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement that addresses the following:
By Day 7 of Week 4
Submit your completed legislation grid and testimony/advocacy statement.
Submission and Grading Information
To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:
Grading Criteria
To access your rubric:
Week 4 Assignment Rubric
Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity
To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:
Submit your Week 4 Assignment draft and review the originality report.
Submit Your Assignment by Day 7 of Week 4
To submit your Assignment:
Week 4 Assignment