HMGT 310 6383 Health Care Policies
Week 1 Discussion
Theme 1:
It is a challenging job to be a student. All students juggle multiple priorities and responsibilities, trying to gain the highest grades at the same time. Please offer your strategies on time management and study skills to your peers. Provide two of the most helpful tools and/or strategies that you use to a high degree of success. Tell us how you apply those tools or skills by sharing an example.  Discuss the tips offered by your peers by responding to at least two classmates’ posts and reflect how or if they will work for you. Some of the additional information could be found in Helpful Tips overview.
Theme 2:
Science:
Healthy People 2020 covers considerable public health topics of concern to health and healthcare policy matters. For this weeks’ discussion, students should utilize one of UMUC’s library of scholarly sources (i.e. journals) or locate a recent health-related newspaper article and select a public health or health care concern addressed in HP 2020’s list of topics and write two paragraphs on the following:
1) Identify and describe the HP2020 objective.
2) Provide background information about the extent of the problem (summary of the health issue), including relevant statistics.
3) Cite the journal article you used in APA format.
Application:
Using the problem you selected above, determine if the topic has been addressed through public policy efforts. In one paragraph, describe the following:
1) Identify where the issue falls in the policymaking cycle. Identify what stage of the public policy process the health topic is, and why you believe it fits into that stage.  Reference a stage(s) of Figure 1, the US Policymaking Cycle, found in the Week 1 Course Introduction document.
2) Conduct policy research on your selected issue using UMUC’s library or online resources. Briefly discuss in what ways public policy addressed this issue (i.e. policy proposed, a policy implemented, etc.).  Be sure to cite sources in APA format.
Reply to at least two of your fellow student’s posts with substantive information and/or feedback that helps facilitate an ongoing discussion.
 
 
 
 
HMGT 310 6383 Health Care Policies
Week 2 Discussion
Science:
This week, we are learning about the social determinants of health. Considering our weekly readings on the social determinants of health and rural populations, discuss at least two social determinants that impact the health of rural populations.
Application:
Conduct online research and describe policies or a (proposed) policy that would alleviate issues around a particular social determinant of health (it does NOT need to be one you discussed above). Specifically state and define the determinant.  Be sure to cite any outside sources in APA format.
Reply to at least two of your fellow student’s posts with substantive information and/or feedback that helps facilitate an ongoing discussion.
 
HMGT 310 6383 Health Care Policies
Week 3 Discussion
Science:
In two paragraphs, describe one of the following:  1) one of the Parts of Medicare and its funding source(s); 2) how the ACA is funded; or 3) choose one state and describe how its Medicaid program is funded.
Application:
Consider your readings on the challenges, debates and successes of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010. Using Figure 3, “How a bill becomes a law,” located in the Week 1 resources, and this weeks’ scholarly readings, select any area within the diagram to describe any issue(s) that may have occurred during or after the process of the ACA transforming from a bill to an actual law. For example, you can describe:
? How did “the people” influence the passage of this healthcare bill? (What evidence supports this?)
? Describe a specific state legislature that supported or opposed the bill?
? Describe the “Committee” in the legislative body who was responsible for reviewing the health care bills.
? Describe one debate or amendment to the ACA bill prior to its adoption into law.
? Were there any issues with the budgets associated with the ACA bill.
? Were there any public hearings during the Committee sessions? If so, provide a description.
? Describe any debates to overturn the ACA.
Be sure to cite all sources in APA format.
Reply to at least two of your fellow student’s posts with substantive information and/or feedback that helps facilitate an ongoing discussion.
UMUC journal articles can also be used to support your discussion response this week
 
HMGT 310 6383 Health Care Policies
Week 4 Discussion
Science:
Describe the role of Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance (ESHI). Include a discussion on the impact of ESHI on the uninsured population in the U.S. and any relevant statistics. Discuss any barriers to ESHI, including access to health services.
Application:
Discuss the role of ESHI after healthcare reform. Provide details on how employers changed their approach to healthcare insurance offerings after ACA implementation. What compensatory mechanisms/programs were introduced to offset the health care access barriers? You may also discuss any current policy news that may facilitate or increase access to ESHI.
Be sure to cite sources in APA format.
Reply to at least two of your fellow student’s posts with substantive information and/or feedback that helps facilitate an ongoing discussion.
 
HMGT 310 6383 Health Care Policies
Week 5 Discussion
Science:
After reading your scholarly resources from this week’s weekly reading assignment, describe one implementation model that is significant for the success of policy implementation.
Application:
Select a topic of interest to you and identify a health policy that addresses the problem. Using the concept you learned this week on policy implementation, did the policy meet its projected goals? What impact did the policy have on its targeted population? Be sure to cite resources in APA format.
Reply to at least two of your fellow student’s posts with substantive information and/or feedback that helps facilitate an ongoing discussion.
 
 
HMGT 310 6383 Health Care Policies
Week 6 Discussion
PLEASE ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN ONE THREAD
HIPAA Training
All students are required to take the following Medscape training programs which are free (but require registration). These videos and training programs cover all aspects of privacy and security. 
Patient Privacy: A Guide for Providers – https://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/781892_2 (video)
HIPAA and You: Building a Culture of Compliance – https://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/762170 (video)
Examining Compliance with the HIPAA Privacy Rule – http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/763251  (text only)
After completing each module, respond in this Discussion to one of the bullet points for each of the three training assignments as outlined below. Comment on at least two classmates’ postings.  Do not simply reiterate your post.
Provide a description of what you learned on Patient Privacy: A Guide for Providers:
         Access to Medical Services
         Amendment
         Rights and Restrictions
Provide a description of what you learned on HIPAA and You: Building a Culture of Compliance:
         HIPAA Security Standards
         Policies and Procedures
         Monitoring and Reporting
Provide a description of what you learned in: Examining Compliance with the HIPAA Privacy Rule:
         What businesses are covered under the HIPAA Privacy rule?
         What health information is protected under the HIPAA Privacy rule?
You must start a thread before you can read and reply to other threads
 
 
 
 
 
 
HMGT 310 6383 Health Care Policies
Week 7 Discussion
Science:
To ensure efficient healthcare delivery and outcomes, and to maintain adherence to state and federal laws, healthcare institutions implement organizational policies. Describe the purposes of organizational policies in more detail.  Also, what impact do such policies have on healthcare institutions and their employees?
Application:
Using your scholarly and/or online resources, provide a specific example of how organizational based policies are implemented in healthcare practice. Be sure to cite your sources in APA format.
Reply to at least two of your fellow student’s posts with substantive information and/or feedback that helps facilitate an ongoing discussion.
You must start a thread before you can read and reply to other threads
 
HMGT 310 6383 Health Care Policies
Week 8 Discussion
Science:
To ensure efficient healthcare delivery and outcomes, and to maintain adherence to state and federal laws, healthcare institutions implement organizational policies. Describe the purposes of organizational policies in more detail.  Also, what impact do such policies have on healthcare institutions and their employees?
Application:
Using your scholarly and/or online resources, provide a specific example of how organizational based policies are implemented in healthcare practice. Be sure to cite your sources in APA format.
Reply to at least two of your fellow student’s posts with substantive information and/or feedback that helps facilitate an ongoing discussion.