What is health policy?

Health v. health care2 terms used looselyWHO: ‘health is the state of complete physical,

mental, and social well being and not merely the absence of disease”

Health care- usually pertains to the system of financing and delivering personal medical care

Much of our health is based on social determinants- housing, education, social capital, our natural environmentALL shaped by policy decisions made outside of the

health care system

Health policy addresses questions such as:Where are we with our health care?How did we get here?Where do we want to be?What other alternatives are available?What is likely to work in the future given our

political processes?What roles should health professionals and

ordinary citizens play in the process?How can we become better prepared for such

roles?

The Key PlayersNational governmentState and local governmentHealth care institutionsProvider professionalsPayer organizations (employers & insurers)Individuals (consumers)

Policy Analysis ProcessProblem identificationProcess definitionProcess analysisQualitative analysisEvaluation

Technical or political feasibility; economic and financial viability

Recommendation

Policy Analysis Process and Health Professionals

The context

Health Professions and Professionals

Policy analysis

Health Policy influences you:Education

Health care

Water/food

Your profession- funding, accreditation

What other policies influence your day to day activities?

Where do PTs and other healthcare professionals fit in? Low level of influence of health professionals

on policy in the USFocus on what policy is doing to them, not what

they can do to change policyProfessionally prepared leaders are importantHigh cost for time spent on policyRecent interest based on provider

dissatisfaction with changes in professional autonomy, incomes, and working conditions under managed care

Lack of time and skills- decreased confidence in policy advocacy