HEALTH POLICY AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Health Policy and the Federal Government



Abstract

The US Congress has always remained a significant part of the healthcare system through the development of the nation's healthcare policy. The paper showed that the functioning of the congress is intricate and undeniably significant. In addition, the paper also showed how the Congress serves as an ideal decision making machine for the nation by making use of a formal structure comprising of committees and debates.

Health Policy and the Federal Government

Introduction

This discussion will attempt to highlight the role of the Congress in the formulation of health policy by highlighting the manner in which the Congress operates and the various steps in legislation as well as the process through which a bill becomes law. The discussion will also consider if I would rather be a Senator or Congressman if I was given the chance and the rationale behind my choice.

Discussion

Role of Congress in the formulation of health policy

The role of the congress in the development of the health policy is significant because of the fact that the congress is responsible for the development of policies in the areas of Medicare, Medicaid and National Institutes of Health. In addition, it is important to note that healthcare policy is essentially a bi-partisan policy; and as a result, the Congress comes across as the only adequate representative bi-partisan body that is eligible to develop such a policy (Kronenfeld, 2002). Furthermore, the scope of the Congress' authority over the development of the healthcare policy spans the factors of regulation, programming, financing and oversight of the health policy.

While one of the most fundamental responsibilities of the Congress is law making, it is essential to note that legislation and healthcare policy development are two areas that have a deep relationship with each other (Hamilton, 2004). This ...