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Policymaking for Health Care,
Environment, and Energy
Policymaking for Health Care,
Environment, and EnergyChapter 19Chapter 19
What do these three have in common?
Health Care Policy
• The Health of Americans– Americans generally lag
behind in some key health statistics.
– Most significantly a lower life expectancy and higher infant mortality rate
– Why?• The Cost of Health Care
– Americans spend more than any other country.
– Why?
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are needed to see this picture.
Health Care Policy
Access to Health CareHealth Insurance.
Millions of Americans have no health insurance.
Often linked to having a job- lose the job, lose the health insurance.
About 20 million Americans have inadequate health insurance.
Health Care Policy• Access to Health Care– Managed Care.
• HMO: provide health care for a yearly fee through contracts or insurance companies.
• Covers about 60 percent of Americans
• Designed to reduce costs through oversight and limiting patient choices.
Health Care PolicyHealth Care Policy The Role of Government in Health Care Medicare: provides hospitalization insurance for elderly and optional coverage for other medical expenses.
Medicaid: public assistance program to provide health care for the poor. Paid for by national and state governments.
The Role of Government in Health Care Medicare: provides hospitalization insurance for elderly and optional coverage for other medical expenses.
Medicaid: public assistance program to provide health care for the poor. Paid for by national and state governments.
Policymaking for Health Care
Policymaking for Health Care
The Clinton Heath Care Reform Plan. Several taxes were to increase, all of which were opposed by those who would pay them.
States were to negotiate with providers and handle premiums, plans and payments.
Health care industry lobbied hard against it.
It eventually died in Congress.
The Clinton Heath Care Reform Plan. Several taxes were to increase, all of which were opposed by those who would pay them.
States were to negotiate with providers and handle premiums, plans and payments.
Health care industry lobbied hard against it.
It eventually died in Congress.
ACA/ObamacareACA/Obamacare
Requires insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions
Requires Americans to purchase health insurance/single payer provision
States are challenging this. Why? The Court might overturn single payer but uphold Obamacare
Why did Obamacare pass while Clinton’s health care plan failed?
Requires insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions
Requires Americans to purchase health insurance/single payer provision
States are challenging this. Why? The Court might overturn single payer but uphold Obamacare
Why did Obamacare pass while Clinton’s health care plan failed?
Policymaking for Health Care
• The Health Policy Issues Ahead.– Update on current status of healthcare
reform in Congress:– http://www.pbs.
org/newshour/video/module_byid.html?s=news01n3d43qe52
Environmental PolicyEnvironmental Policy
Environmental Policies in America-EPA created in 1970– Environmental Impacts.
Environmental Impact Statements: report that specifies likely environmental impact of a proposed action- filed with the EPA.
Used by environmental groups to challenge and delay projects they object to.
– Clean Air. Clean Air Act of 1970: reduce auto
pollution.
Environmental Policies in America-EPA created in 1970– Environmental Impacts.
Environmental Impact Statements: report that specifies likely environmental impact of a proposed action- filed with the EPA.
Used by environmental groups to challenge and delay projects they object to.
– Clean Air. Clean Air Act of 1970: reduce auto
pollution.
Environmental Policy
Environmental Policies in America Clean Water.
Water Pollution Control Act of 1972: intended to clean up the nation’s rivers and lakes, requiring the use of pollution control technology.
Has helped reclaim numerous rivers and lakes since its passage.
But it misses “runoff” pollution from city streets and other areas.
Environmental PolicyEnvironmental Policy◊ Environmental Policies in America• Wilderness Preservation.◊ The U.S. is a world leader in wilderness preservation.
◊ The national parks and national forests may be restricted to keep them for future generations.
• Endangered Species.◊ Government protects those species listed as endangered- regardless of costs.
◊ Environmental Policies in America• Wilderness Preservation.◊ The U.S. is a world leader in wilderness preservation.
◊ The national parks and national forests may be restricted to keep them for future generations.
• Endangered Species.◊ Government protects those species listed as endangered- regardless of costs.
Environmental PolicyEnvironmental Policy Toxic Wastes
Chemicals and nuclear fuel that are hazardous to humans and animals.
Superfund: created in 1980 to clean up hazardous waste sites.
Some sites are completely clean, others may never be clean enough to use for anything.
Current law requires tracking of hazardous chemicals, and their disposal.
Toxic Wastes Chemicals and nuclear fuel that are hazardous to humans and animals.
Superfund: created in 1980 to clean up hazardous waste sites.
Some sites are completely clean, others may never be clean enough to use for anything.
Current law requires tracking of hazardous chemicals, and their disposal.
Energy PolicyEnergy Policy
Sources of Energy
Energy PolicyEnergy Policy
• Energy, the Environment, and Global Warming– 87% of the nation’s energy
comes from coal, oil and natural gas.
– Most controversial energy source is nuclear, especially after the earthquake in Japan.
– Policymakers have shown more interest in conservation, alternative fuels and renewable fuel sources.
• Energy, the Environment, and Global Warming– 87% of the nation’s energy
comes from coal, oil and natural gas.
– Most controversial energy source is nuclear, especially after the earthquake in Japan.
– Policymakers have shown more interest in conservation, alternative fuels and renewable fuel sources.
Copenhagen Climate Conference
Copenhagen Climate Conference
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/video/module.html?s=news01s3776qd34
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/video/module.html?s=news01s3776qd34
