Introduction to Population and Problem
The identified problem associated with the launch of health policy is linked to access to dental health care among the low-income population of Miami, Florida. Without insurance, dental care is quite expensive, and with the rising wage gap and the increase of the federal poverty rate, low-income populations do not have enough financial means to satisfy their oral health needs. It has been identified that only 48% of people (which is less than half of the US population) could afford an emergency expenditure of $400; therefore, it is often impossible to add a dental care plan on top of that (“Dental health problems in low-income populations,” 2017). It is imperative to introduce a policy that will address the identified problem and provide the community with the necessary resources.
Description of How the Policy Is Intended for a Specific Population
The proposed health care policy will be associated with offering several strategies such as the introduction of new payment methods for controlling the increases in price for improving access to healthcare. It will guarantee that all citizens of Miami, Florida will get enhanced access to dental care services within the modern environment of economic fluctuations and instabilities. Low-income citizens will benefit from the policy through the involvement of dental volunteers for serving adults and children. This is especially important due to the increased need for emergency assistance. More often than not, private dental doctors only treat their regular clients since they pay large sums of money for oral care services. The policy will address this problem as well since it will involve more volunteers to provide care on a non-payment basis.
Specific Legislators Involved in the Policy Development and Dissemination
If to mention a particular legislator involved in the promotion and the development of the policy, Nan H. Rich (a former Democratic leader in the Florida Senate) has worked toward the increase of health care access for the poor and the decrease of healthcare costs. Due to the unprecedented pressure on a large number of hospitals in Florida and Miami in particular, the low-income and uninsured populations face significant issues regarding access to affordable healthcare services (Rich, 2015). Mrs. Rich has been working with the governor and other legislators to provide equal access to healthcare for everyone.
Role of the APRN in Assisting with the Policy or Refuting the Policy
Because APRNs play a vital part in the promotion of health care and educating the population, their role with regards to the policy is associated with encouraging the participation of dental care professionals that will provide low-income communities with affordable care. Moreover, as Most APRNs are licensed and trained to provide a vast range of primary care services (Federal Trade Commission, 2014), they can participate in the provision of dental care for the low-income population in the case when they are offered appropriate training.
How the Policy Influences Clinical Practice and is Used to Promote Best Outcomes
The primary goal of the introduced policy is to ensure improved access to health care services for the vulnerable and low-income populations in Miami, Florida. This means that the promotion of the best possible outcomes within the clinical practice will be directly linked with how well the policy will be integrated into the usual processes of healthcare facilities. The more dental doctors are involved in the provision of affordable care for low-income populations, the more improvements will be seen with regards to the clinical practice. Overall, it is expected that clinical professionals will benefit from the introduction of the policy due to the increased flow of patients and thus more opportunities for enhancing the clinical practice and improving the quality of care provided to low-income populations of Miami.
How the Policy Can Be Used by the Interprofessional Team
The policy can be used for disseminating efforts of different role-players involved in the establishment of a cohesive and coordinated performance of an interprofessional team. It is expected that dental care doctors will complete the largest bulk of work; however, the interprofessional team members will have other roles in the policy implementation, including patient education, support, referral, and follow-ups. It is essential that the members collaborate for developing a coordinated and comprehensive plan of care to cater to the needs of low-income patients in need of high-quality dental care services (FDI World Dental Federation, 2015).
Conclusion
It has been identified that issues of access to affordable health care for the low-income populations of Miami contribute to the decrease in the quality of provided dental health services and a subsequent worsening of patient outcomes. With the support from Florida’s legislators, the community, and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, the introduced health policy is expected to increase the reach of affordable health care services and ensure that the low-income and vulnerable populations receive appropriate care. It is advised to monitor the implementation of the policy and measure the populations’ outcomes regarding access to dental care in order to make appropriate changes for catering to the population’s needs.
References
Dental health problems in low income populatons. (2017). Web.
FDI World Dental Federation. (2015). Optimal oral health through inter-professional education and collaborative practice.
Federal Trade Commission. (2014). Policy perspectives: Competition and the regulation of advanced practice nurses.
Rich, N. (2015). Florida’s working poor are facing a terminal diagnosis.