Suppliers and Demanders of Health Policy: Roles and Interactions

Legislators

As suppliers of health policy, legislators collect crucial verbal and written information that influences health from interested groups. Legislators can request information from various objective sources that give importance to the various health policies (Davis et al., 2023). If provided with enough information, the legislature can establish bodies to gather and analyze scientific data on a specific policy. One example of a legislature that contributes to health policies is Representative H. Morgan Griffith, US representative for Virginia.

Executives and Bureaucrats

Executives and bureaucrats are in the best position to gather important data and evidence to formulate sound health policies. The executive through various arms such as the United States Department of Health and Human Services has the authority to obtain data on policy and clinical research from sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health and the Agency for Health Care Policy (Bolton & Thrower, 2021). One of the members of the executive that contributes to health policy is Xavier Becerra; United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.

The Judiciary

Courts are actively involved in health policies and this is a reflection of various health determinants such as social factors, genetics and behaviors, and physical environment. Every time a court interprets a complicated law, it is establishing a judicial procedure or interpreting the United States policy (Bolton & Thrower, 2021). The activities undertaken by the members of the judiciary are not very different from what the legislators do when enacting public laws or what the executive members do when establishing rules and regulations. For example, Justice Elena Kagan plays a crucial role in refining the Medicare program.

Individuals

Individuals as demanders of healthcare services consider various policies that are relevant to their health as a means of achieving their desired health goals and not economic advantage. The desires of people make them active participants in policy making and they are prepared to spend more money, time, and political capital to support various health policies (Meacham & Beaufort, 2021). An example of an individual who hugely influences health is George Benjamin MD a member of the National Academy of Medicine.

Organizations

Organizations such as technology suppliers, health plans, and health systems have significant advantages in influencing health other than individuals. Large organizations have the necessary resources to gather relevant information to influence a particular health policy (Meacham & Beaufort, 2021). An example of an organization that influences healthcare policies is the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which provides the necessary evidence-based information.

Interest Groups

Interest groups comprise groups of organizations and individuals with the same policy goals who engage in the policy-making process to achieve these goals. The interest groups combine the knowledge and resources of the group members regarding health issues and this positively influences health policies (Meacham & Beaufort, 2021). An example of an interest group that positively influences health care is the American Nurses Association.

References

• Bolton, A., & Thrower, S. (2021). Checks in the balance: Legislative capacity and the dynamics of executive power (Vol. 193). Princeton University Press. https://books.google.com/books?id=bbgzEAAAQBAJ
• Davis, M., Dedon, L., Hoffman, S., Baker-White, A., Engleman, D., & Sunshine, G. (2023). Emergency powers and the pandemic: Reflecting on state legislative reforms and the future of public health response. Journal of Emergency Management, 21(7 Spec Iss), 19. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10170300/
• Meacham, M. R., & Beaufort, B. (2021). Longest's health policymaking in the United States (7th ed.). Health Administration Press.