Essay Sample on Role of the Government and Policies in Health Status

Introduction

For this discussion, the specific area of focus would be on the general health status according to the Healthy People 2020. Information provided in the HP 2020 regarding the determinants of health imply that various factors which range from personal, social, economic as well as environmental factors impact the general health status ("2020 Topics and Objectives - Objectives A-Z | Healthy People 2020", 2019). However, the determinants of health fall under diverse categories which include policymaking, the societal determinants, various healthcare services, individual conduct as well as the biological and genetic composition of individuals. Generally, policies implemented by the state or the federal administration influence the health of individuals and that of the general population. Therefore, a strategy that would slightly increase the tax rates on substances such as tobacco is likely to enhance the general health status of people by decreasing the number of people who purchase and consume tobacco.

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On the other hand, the social factors that determine health conditions of individuals can depend on the setting upon which they are born or brought up ("2020 Topics and Objectives - Objectives A-Z | Healthy People 2020", 2019). Consequently, the access to healthcare services or even the quality of health services can also influence the general health status. Healthy People 2020 focuses on the access to healthcare services as the main area of concern by addressing some of the factors that hinder access to healthcare services which include lack of availability, relatively high costs of services, lack of health insurance policy coverage as well as language barrier. Finally, HP 2020 also states that personal behaviors as well as the biological and genetic components of an individual can also influence the general health status. Positive change in individual behaviors such as substance abuse, physical activities or even diet can impact the general health status. However, there are some genetic factors that influence the general health status of other individuals than others. Some of the various biological and genetic factors include age, sex, the HIV status as well as some inherited conditions ("2020 Topics and Objectives - Objectives A-Z | Healthy People 2020", 2019).

The USPSTF has provided general recommendations for clinical preventive services on diverse topics such as cardiovascular diseases and falling out generally relating to the public health status of adults. The USPSTF recommends that individuals who do not have obesity or cardiovascular diseases should be given primary professional care through behavioral counseling to enhance a healthy diet and physical activity. The USPSTF has also provided various recommendations on the clinical preventive measures for multiple diseases hence promoting the population and individual general health status. The various recommendations by USPSTF that can enhance the general health status are available online at http://www .uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org.

Generally, the role of the government and policies in addressing the concern of general health status on a population level is evident in the government operations to enhance health literacy levels. The government is focusing on the social economic and environmental factors of health because health literacy levels can only be increased through such a structured approach and with the use of effective communication. The government has taken the forefront in establishing the necessary procedures to strengthen health literacy policies by offering capitation, creating special projects and coordinating action across sectors as well as conducting health literacy surveillance often. Generally, the federal administration is playing a significant role in controlling the financing of the healthcare system to ensure there is an improvement in the general health status (Niles, 2016).

References

2020 Topics and Objectives - Objectives A-Z | Healthy People 2020. (2019). Healthypeople.gov. Retrieved 14 February 2019, from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives

Mason, D. J., Gardner, D.B., Hopkins Outlaw, F. and O'Grady, E.T (Eds.). (2016). Policy and politics in nursing and health care (7th Ed.) St. Louis: Elsevier Chapter 81

Niles, N. J. (2016). Basics of the US health care system. Jones & Bartlett Learning.