Health policy

Health policy refers to decisions, plans, and actions that are undertaken to achieve specific health care goals within a society. An explicit health policy can achieve several things: it defines a vision for the future which in turn helps to establish targets and points of reference for the short and medium term. It outlines priorities and the expected roles of different groups; and it builds consensus and informs people.

Definition

Health policy can be defined as the "decisions, plans, and actions that are undertaken to achieve specific healthcare goals within a society". According to the World Health Organization, an explicit health policy can achieve several things. It can define a vision for the future which in turn helps to establish targets and points of reference for the short and medium term. It outlines priorities and the expected roles of different groups; and it builds consensus and informs people.

Types of Health Policies

There are many categories of health policies, including global health policy, public health policy, mental health policy, health care services policy, insurance policy, personal health care policy, pharmaceutical policy, and policies related to public health such as vaccination policy, tobacco control policy or breastfeeding promotion policy.

Health Policy and Law

In some jurisdictions, health policy is created and maintained by law. For example, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States was enacted to protect patient privacy and secure health information.

Health Policy by Country

Health policy varies significantly from country to country, and is influenced by a variety of factors including social, cultural, economic, and political factors.

United States

In the United States, health policy is influenced by a complex mix of federal and state laws. Major pieces of legislation include the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, health policy is determined by the National Health Service (NHS) and the Department of Health.

See Also

• Public health
• Health care
• Health insurance
• Healthcare reform
• Healthcare in the United States
• Healthcare in the United Kingdom

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