1) Identify a major public health program/policy with ethical connotations. The policy can be already existing or newly proposed. Feel free to choose a topic from the examples provided below or choose a policy you’re particularly interested in. Contraception 2) Conduct a policy analysis and ethical dilemma analysis using defined steps in lecture slides. 3) The health policy analysis should proceed directly into the ethical dilemma analysis. a. After Step 2C of the policy analysis, proceed directly into Step 1 of the ethical analysis. b. You’ll notice that there is some overlap between the steps for the policy analysis and steps for the ethical analysis. You do not have to answer the same questions twice. Accordingly, please skip any steps (or parts of steps) in the ethical analysis that you’ve already answered in your policy analysis. 4) Use at least 2 reputable sources (e.g. journal article, web site, book) to support your analyses. Reference in AJHP format. Submission: *Choose one group member to submit document via Joule. Topic Example Policies Contraception • Emergency contraception • Over the counter birth control • Free birth control • Right to refuse coverage (faith-based institutions) 1. Identify the problem: No insurance coverage for contraceptives/Health providers refusing to provide contraception Under the Affordable Care Act, a mandate was issued in which contraceptives, and other women’s preventative services, were completely covered by insurance companies. Since the new administration has taken into effect, patients’ are expected to buy their contraceptives and pay for the women’s preventative services they receive. However, in late 2016, the new administration has expanded this new mandate, the “Religious Freedom Restoration Act,” which gives providers the right to refuse providing services such as abortions, sterilization, artificial insemination, HPV vaccines and dispensing contraceptives.Among sexually experienced females, aged 15-44, 1 in 9 have used emergency contraception. 2A. Identify and Describe Policy Options Refuse to provide contraception because of religious reasons o What are the objectives of this policy? ? The objective for this policy is to respect the religious beliefs of health care providers as well as keep it to the discretion of the employer o What population will benefit or be negatively impacted by this policy? ? Females, especially low income, who are within childbearing age, who might need it for health, or pregnancy prevention will be negatively impacted. ? The population that will benefit from this policy are employers who have religion beliefs against the contraception. o What are the current political forces, including political history, environment and policy debate? ? Planned Parenthood is against this new mandate, stating that this is not only an act of discrimination but it also steals potentially life-saving health care from thousands of women, especially those who are members of the LGBTQ community, throughout the nation. o How much time is needed to make the policy be enforced? ? As of january 2018, 21 states have laws or regulations that allow pharmacies to refuse access to contraceptives for religious reasons without critical protections for patients. o How do costs compare to benefits? ? It eliminates a significant amount of medicaid spending. It will also have a cheaper cost for employers to not have to provide coverage. Make it illegal to deny coverage for religious reasons o What are the objectives of this policy? ? Allowing easy access of all forms of contraction to be available to anyone who needs it ? The objectives for this policy to not let the religion believes effect on the counseling part. o What population will benefit or be negatively impacted by this policy? ? Females, especially low income, who are within childbearing age, who might need it for health, or pregnancy prevention. ? In the United states, it would benefit 62 million american women who are on birth control o What are the current political forces, including political history, environment and policy debate? ? CDC believes that providing coverage for contraceptives is, “one of the greatest health achievements of the 20th century.” ? Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP) will continue covering the cost of contraceptives. o How much time is needed to make the policy be enforced? ? This policy change could take years to be implemented and have a behavioral change within communities o How do costs compare to benefits? ? Under the ACA, birth control provision saved women an estimated $1.4 billion on birth control pills in the first year 2C. Prioritize Policy Options (ie. Choose the best policy) Solving Ethical Dilemmas Step 1. Identify characteristics of the problem and principles involved Step 2. Identify the concerned parties and who are charged for making the decision Step 3.
