Policies Related To Child Health - Assignment Example

Policies Related To Child Health Policies related to child health Introduction The US governments in collaboration with lobby groups and NOGs that advocate for child health have made significant strides in developing and implementing systems and also policies that ensure availability of quality health care and at affordable cost to all children. The efforts have been incorporated and built from both Medicaid as well as Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The two programs have been significant in ensuring that there is free or low-cost health coverage for children who qualify and also their family members. It is the desire for every parent to ensure that their childs health is secure and reliable. It may seem like most aspects of a childs care is little less of a straight forward informed consent of the parent and the family, but this is not always the case. This calls for the law to take control to ensure that childrens health is secure and available in an affordable way. The government policies create avenues that facilitate these goals. According to Patel and Rushefsky (2014, p. 75) over the past few decades, the state has take the lead role in ensuring that health policy reforms. The government has played key role in legislation, regulation and also innovative competitive strategies as efforts to cut down the healthcare cost. Child Healthcare under Affordable Care Act Five years ago, the US government enacted the Affordable Care Act. The policy is designed to provide affordable health coverage options, stop private insurance companies from discriminating against patients with pre-existing conditions, strengthen consumer’s protection, improve the quality of care and also boost the bargaining power of families as well as small enterprises by allowing health insurance exchange. According to Price and Saltzman (2013, p. 12) the Affordable Care Act will help American save allot of money that is spend majorly on health related cases. The expansion of Medicaid and creation of a new insurance exchange system will play a major role. The Affordable Care Act also extends its funding to the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) mainly through FY 2015. The program also ensures that children who have been having precious and pre-existing conditions are not secluded from health insurance from the insurance companies. In addition to that, the act also comes with pediatric benefit for children and this is inclusive of oral and vision coverage. All children are supposed to get the basic pediatric services and this will be achieved by increase in the workforce. The number of pediatricians, pediatric nurses and other practitioners will be increased to ensure that the children will be in a position to access quality health care. The parents enrolled under the new planned are required to choose their preferred pediatrician from any of the participating provider. Health Priorities for Children A high number of children live in poverty and this puts them in a very vulnerable position against illness, violence abuse among other related issues. The state has a responsibility and obligation to ensure that children are protected from such dangers. Most importantly is the health of the child. Childrens health should be put as priority by all government leaders and the policy makers. It is hard to believe that over 5.2 million American children are uninsured for any health service. Out of this number 2/3 are already eligible for insurance. All the elected leaders have a responsibility to make sure that all the eligible children are ensure and can now access health services. Programs like CHIP and Medicaid have made significant steps in reducing the number of uninsured children but the challenge is still there and more need to be done. The survival and thrive of all children is so much depended on access to affordable and comprehensive coverage that can easily be accessed and maintained. Parent or guardian religious and cultural beliefs affecting child health decisions Children are in custody of parents and guardian who hold different religious and cultural beliefs. There are instances when these beliefs come in conflict with the health care decisions for the custodians and even the children. The main health care practice that has been affected allot is the immunization of children. There have been an increased number of parents who because of their religious and cultural beliefs have decline vaccination for their children. This situation puts the medical practitioners in a dilemma of whether to respect the parents wishes and legal rights or uphold the childs well-being. This brings into conflict the values and principles of parenting and medical profession. When such cases occur, the medical practitioner has to measure the nature of the situation and analyze the threat and danger the child is facing. If the situation is extreme, the medical practitioner may be forced to contact child protective services agencies or even the public health authorities. According to Price and Gwin (, p. 8) religious and cultural beliefs and practices can greatly affect how a parent and even the child approaches health ad illness. Every religion has practices which need to be respected. Truth is religion is an important aspect of health care. While this is true, religion should also acknowledge and appreciate the role of medical care from medical practitioners. Minor consent and access to confidential services The federal and also the state have established policies that moderate the minors capacity and also the right to make crucial decisions concerning health care. Some of the services that the minor have consent to are contraceptive services, the testing and treatment of HIV/STIs, treatment of drug and alcohol abuse, mental health among others. According to Paula and Hillard (2013, p. 45) minors have the right to consent to their own health care but only if they reach particular status exceptions. In most states, if a minor has been emancipated by a court, the minor is allowed to consent on their own general health care just like an adult would do. This consent may go all the way to mean care of them if they find themselves to be pregnant, homeless, parenting, financially independence among other. The adolescent age comes with so many challenges related to health care. The young teenagers in this stage experience emotional and physical changes which if not well controlled may lead them to more dangers. Dangers faced by adolescents include among others unplanned pregnancies, sexual abuse, STIs, suicidal thoughts and depression. The health practitioners play a key role in resolving most of these issues and overall treatment. All the stakeholders in health care have a duty to ensure that the privacy and confidentiality of their patients information is kept. The extreme of some situations may seem reasonable to notify the parents or guardians of the specific patient. However, the confidentiality from the health provider is equally important because the adolescent may find it hard to give full information concerning their cases if they know that whatever they say will be confidential. According to Ehrlich (2006, p. 53) providers of health services and especially those who deal with adolescents agree the importance of confidentiality in ensuring satisfactory access to health care services especially when dealing with sensitive cases like reproduction. Studies have shown that teens might forego seeking health services if their confidentiality is not guaranteed. Summary The Affordable Act has a great potential to transform the childrens health care by expanding the funding to CHIP and also Medicaid. The Policy will ensure that children are able to access health services at affordable cost and of the best quality. The introduction of insurance exchange also will make it easy for parents to access health services from different places. Nonetheless, more attention and health priorities should be channeled to children. There are so many children who are still uninsured and this puts them in the risk. The minors and adolescents have rights to consent in regard to medical services they receive. Their consent however is limited to the extreme of their health circumstances. This also varies from state to state. Their medical information is supposed to be kept in confidentiality unless they want it shared. The parent’s religious beliefs and cultural practices can at times influence the parents health care decisions. The most important thing to consider is the health and safety of the child. Medical practitioners have a role to play in ensuring that the interests of the children have been protected. References Patel, K., & Rushefsky, M. E. (2014) Healthcare Politics and Policy in America: 2014. New York, NY: Rutledge Top of Form Price, C. C., Saltzman, E., RAND Health., & Rand Corporation (2013) the economic impact of the Affordable Care Act on Arkansas. Top of Form Price, D. L., Gwin, J. F., & Price, D. L. (2007). Pediatric nursing: An introductory text. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Saunders. Top of Form In Hillard, P. A. (2013) Practical pediatric and adolescent gynecology Top of Form Ehrlich, J. S. (2006). Who decides? : The abortion rights of teens. Westport, Conn. [u.a.: Praeger. Read More