POLITICS AND THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

Regardless of political affiliation, individuals often grow concerned when considering perceived competing interests of government and their impact on topics of interest to them. The realm of healthcare is no different. Some people feel that local, state, and federal policies and legislation can be either helped or hindered by interests other than the benefit to society.

Consider for example that the number one job of a legislator is to be reelected. Cost can be measured in votes as well as dollars. Thus, it is important to consider the legislator’s perspective on either promoting or not promoting a certain initiative in the political landscape.

an explanation for how you think the cost-benefit analysis in terms of legislators being reelected affected efforts to repeal/replace the ACA. Then, explain how analyses of the voters views may affect decisions by legislative leaders in recommending or positioning national policies (e.g., Congress’ decisions impacting Medicare or Medicaid). Remember, the number one job of a legislator is to be re-elected. Please check your discussion grading rubric to ensure your responses meet the criteria.

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

o Chapter 3, “Government Response: Legislation” (pp. 37–56)

o Chapter 10, “Overview: The Economics and Finance of Health Care” (pp. 180–183 only)

· Congress.govLinks to an external site.. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2018, from https://www.congress.gov/

· Taylor, D., Olshansky, E., Fugate-Woods, N., Johnson-Mallard, V., Safriet, B. J., & Hagan, T. (2017). Corrigendum to position statement: Political interference in sexual and reproductive health research and health professional education. Nursing Outlook, 65(2), 346–350Links to an external site..

· United States House of RepresentativesLinks to an external site.. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2018, from https://www.house.gov/

· United States SenateLinks to an external site.. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2018, from https://www.senate.gov/

· United States Senate. (n.d.). Senate organization chart for the 117th CongressLinks to an external site..  https://www.senate.gov/reference/org_chart.htm

Servaes, J. (2022). Communication for development and social change. In The Routledge handbook of nonprofit communication (pp. 23-31). Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003170563-4/communication-development-social-change-jan-servaes

Suhay, E., Cloud, E., Heath, E., & Nash, E. (2019). Recommended Practices for Science Communication with Policy Makers. https://www.american.edu/spa/scicomm/upload/recommended-practices-booklet_v17-digital.pdf

Vélez, M., Wilson, M. G., Abelson, J., Lavis, J. N., & Paraje, G. (2020). Understanding the role of values in health policy decision-making from the perspective of policymakers and stakeholders: a multiple-case embedded study in Chile and Colombia. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 9(5), 185. 10.15171/ijhpm.2019.94

Media

· Walden University, LLC. (Producer). (2018). Working with Legislators [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Walden University, LLC. (Producer). (2018). Contemporary Issues in Public Health Policy with Joel Teitelbaum [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author

Answer:

The effort to repeal or replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was heavily influenced by a cost-benefit analysis from the perspective of legislators seeking reelection. For many legislators, particularly those in contentious or swing districts, supporting the ACA repeal efforts posed significant risks in terms of losing support from constituents who benefited from the ACA’s provisions, such as expanded Medicaid coverage or protections for pre-existing conditions. On the other hand, opposing the repeal efforts might have alienated certain voter demographics or special interest groups, potentially jeopardizing reelection prospects. Therefore, legislators had to weigh the perceived costs and benefits of their stance on the ACA repeal in terms of both votes and political contributions.

Analyzing voter views is crucial for legislative leaders when recommending or positioning national policies like those impacting Medicare or Medicaid. Legislative leaders need to consider the diverse perspectives of their constituents, especially in light of their reelection goals. They rely on various sources of information, including polling data, town hall meetings, and constituent feedback, to gauge public sentiment accurately. This information influences their decisions on whether to support or oppose certain policies, as they aim to align themselves with the preferences of the majority of their constituents. Ignoring or disregarding voter views can have significant electoral consequences, potentially leading to backlash at the ballot box.

In summary, legislators’ prioritization of reelection heavily influences their approach to healthcare policy, including efforts to repeal or replace the ACA. Additionally, analyses of voter views play a pivotal role in shaping legislative decisions, as leaders strive to represent the interests and preferences of their constituents to secure electoral support.