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Summary This publication examines health policy in the United States, which reflects authoritative decisions and the process of decision-making, carried out at the federal, state, and local levels, which affect personal health and access to and delivery of health services. The publication provides an analysis of health policy making in the U.S., including how health policy proposals move through the policy process. It also assesses the key challenges with regards to addressing cost, access, and quality issues in health care and an evaluation of the existing policies in these arenas. In addition, it contains an analysis of the diversity of perspectives held by policy makers, interest groups, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders regarding existing and proposed health policy; in addition to the identification of the ways in which health care professionals can participate in and influence health policy development. The author, Immanuel Azaad Moonesar R.D., M.Q.M., NEBOSH, Dip-ICND, B.Sc., is a researcher in Health Services and PhD Candidate, Walden University, DC, U.S.A. He is affiliated to the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, Dubai, U.A.E. Contents Introduction - the policy process and case scenarios; the policy and political environment and case scenarios Access challenges and policies - health care reform to address access; access to insurance versus access to care; health access care or insurance? Quality challenges and policies - government versus private options for quality; pros and cons of pay-for-performance Cost challenges and policies - challenges in containing health care costs - legislation on cost containment Disease and emergency-related health policy Conclusion

Summary This publication examines health policy in the United States, which reflects authoritative decisions and the process of decision-making, carried out at the federal, state, and local levels, which affect personal health and access to and delivery of health services. The publication provides an analysis of health policy making in the U.S., including how health policy proposals move through the policy process. It also assesses the key challenges with regards to addressing cost, access, and quality issues in health care and an evaluation of the existing policies in these arenas. In addition, it contains an analysis of the diversity of perspectives held by policy makers, interest groups, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders regarding existing and proposed health policy; in addition to the identification of the ways in which health care professionals can participate in and influence health policy development. The author, Immanuel Azaad Moonesar R.D., M.Q.M., NEBOSH, Dip-ICND, B.Sc., is a researcher in Health Services and PhD Candidate, Walden University, DC, U.S.A. He is affiliated to the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, Dubai, U.A.E. Contents Introduction - the policy process and case scenarios; the policy and political environment and case scenarios Access challenges and policies - health care reform to address access; access to insurance versus access to care; health access care or insurance? Quality challenges and policies - government versus private options for quality; pros and cons of pay-for-performance Cost challenges and policies - challenges in containing health care costs - legislation on cost containment Disease and emergency-related health policy Conclusion