The problem is that section 5316 of PL 111-148 the program does not include stipend and housing for graduated and employed family nurse practitioners who taking the a one year training program. The public policy question is should the federal government mandate the provision of stipend and housing for Family Nurse Practitioners admitted into the training program. The resolution to the public policy program is to amend section 5316 of PL 111-148 to say: Section 5316 would include stipend and housing for nurses accepted in the training program.
Legal Issues
The legal that would affect passage of the proposed amendment is that 26 states of America have filed suit against the federal government to repeal PL 111- 148 claiming that the law is unconstitutional. The 26 states are Florida, South Carolina, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, Louisiana, Alabama, Colorado, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Washington, Idaho, South Dakota, Indiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, Alaska, NFIB, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio, Kansas, Wyoming and Maine. The Supreme Court upheld the healthcare law on June 28, 2012 and validated the opposition by the states that the government had exceeded its power by enacting the measure. “The judgment is affirmed in part and reversed in part.” National Federation of Independent Businesses et al. v Sebelius Secretary of Health and Human Services, et al. (2012). Regardless of whether the law is ruled constitutional or unconstitutional, there is no likely hood of the entire law being struck.
Political Issues
The political issue that would affect passage of the proposed amendment is that in January 2011, Representative Eric Cantor (R-Va.) introduced ‘Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act’ (H.R. 2). According to this legislation, repealing the PL 111-148 would establish and restore all its provisions. The bill was passed by the House by a vote of 245-189 and has been placed in the Senate for consideration. If the law is repealed, there would be an increase in the “federal budgetary commitment to health care by about $400 billion over the 2010-1019 period” (Elmendorf, 2011). This would have a positive impact on getting my proposed amendment passed with an increase in expenditure in healthcare.
Social Issues
The social issues that support the proposed amendment is that nurses play a pivotal role in healthcare and are more specialized to provide focused care to patients. Nursing education has thus become more advanced with nurses having Masters, and doctorate degrees which in turn enhance specialized care to patients, improving the quality of services in healthcare (Lyder, 2011). The federal government offers aid and several programs for training health professional to increase the patient care and reduce costs. Studies indicate potential savings in healthcare by “from the use of professionals who are not physicians led to the addition of such federal programs as aid for physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners, and team dentistry” (Etheredge, 1986). As such, the proposed amendment is good for all Americans who would support the amendment to Congressional stakeholder to vote for it.
Ethical Issues
The ethical principle that supports passage of the proposed amendment is Social Responsibility because it is “foundational to how nurses ought to think and act when recommending significant changes” which impact “not only the nurses but also the greater society” (ANA, 2003). The above principle supports the philosophy of nursing as practise which involves giving care to patients and thereby affects the greater good of society.
Stakeholders
Politicians – The proposed amendment would invite support from politicians, since nurses are an important aspect of providing healthcare and by supporting the proposition, they will be able to get additional votes
The American Vote – Health care is of primary importance to the American voter who knows that nurses are essential health care givers.
Political Activists – The issue will be supported by political activists since they are well aware of how much importance the American voter give to health care.
Political Lobbyists – Political lobbyists will certainly support the amendment since it relates closely to the improvement in the quality of healthcare.
Summary
The proposed amendment would include stipend and housing for graduated and employed family nurse practitioners. From a social perspective, the amendment is important to America since it involves enhanced support to nurse education, which in turn would enhance the quality of health care. Ethically, the amendment seeks to promote positive changes in nursing education and reforms. From a political point of view, the proposed amendment would take a step further in improving the quality of health care professional nurses by providing benefits for the educational program.
References
American Nurses Association. (2003). Nursing’s social policy statement (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: nursesbooks.org (The Publishing Programs of ANA).
H.R. 6079-112th Congress: Repeal of Obamacare Act. (2012). In www.GovTrack.us. Web.
Elmendorf, Douglas, (2011). Web.
Etherdge, Lynn, (1986). Government and Health Care costs: The influence of Research on Policy, pp 7-19 in From Research into Policy: Improving the Link for Health Services, edited by M. E. Lewin. Washington, DC: American Enterprise Institute.
Lyder, Courtney, (2011). Nurses at the Forefront of Change. Web.