Kiley Overholt
HCS/455
June 24, 2013
Elaine Bobo

Legislative and Implementation

In health care there are five stages involved when policies are introduced into the health care system. Policies are at a constant pace of being reviewed to better the health care system, with each one having an effect on the changes in health care. Since each stage takes special consideration before policies are proposed and accepted, in this paper we will talk about two, the Legislative and Implementation stages.
Legislative
The Legislative phase is similar to the steps of passing a bill; with the exception that it is only for the health care aspect. It all begins with an idea in which evolves into something more, where steps are to be taken in order to get the policy into action. Congress is involved in this phase to help legislative officers in making executive decisions by offering guidance on actions. The Office of Legislative Policy and Analysis (OLPA) “helps by providing information and advice on Congressional actions that affect those involved” (Office of Legislative Policy and Analysis (ofm)-Other Related Resources”,). The functions that are involved to help support during the process is: • “To serve as the principle legislative with the congress, and other Federal agencies • Prepare if there is need to testify • Analyzes pending legislation • Monitor and keep those involved informed • Brief members of Congress and staff; and • Coordinates visits by members of Congress and their staff” (Office of Legislative Policy and Analysis (ofm)-Other Related Resources”,).
Following these functions can better organize the OLPA to assist when voting on policies within legislation. To vote the House of Representatives and the Senate are involved where the introduction of a bill is brought into consideration; either from previous ideas or new ones. “Once a member introduces a bill, the process begins” (Washington State Legislature”,). There are many steps involved in this process, if the bill makes it through all the steps of the chamber and approved by the President within 10 days then it becomes a bill.
Implementation
Identifying and realizing the resources by assessing the plans are steps involved in implementation. Policy implementation “reflects a process involved in change where government decisions are transformed into procedures, regulations and programs” (DeGroff & Cargo, 2009). Those involved, one unparticular is an evaluator; “which requires a deep understanding of the health or social issues involved, facilitation skills to deal with multiplicity of values, interests, evaluation approaches and methods” (DeGroff & Cargo, 2009). Factors can affect how the implementation stage takes place due to the duties that are to be taken place. Theodoulou and Kofinis identify three key challenges that can routinely affect implementation: • Clarity of policy goals- having this helps specify the objectives desired from the policy action • Information intelligence-having strategic necessity for constant feedback on how to implement the progress, assessment of impacts is beneficial as well • Strategic planning- highlighting the importance of assessing the capacity of an agency to meet specific tasks and goals mandated by the decision of the policy through implementation (Theodoulou & Kofinis, 2004).
Implementation is an operational phase that involves a number of people involved; whether they are directly involved or having a part in some way or form. “Administrative agencies represent the former while the president, the congress, the courts, and interest groups represent the later, the bureaucracy is delegated a great amount of power during the implementation stage of the policy process” (Theodoulou & Kofinis, 2004). Implementation will continuously be used to help solve problems within the policy process. Legislative and Implementation are important stages involved in the policy process, each having a distinct way of decisions involved in order to translate what needs to be done. As each stage takes critique reviewing it all comes together in some way or form. Following a structure can help assist those who are apart of such a major decision are doing them properly. Each policy varies in what it can become and these stages are a part of each regulation represented. Every action depends on how it is enforced and proposed to become the desired outcome; in which everyone agrees on. Although these are only two of the steps involved in a policy their outcome changes the way they will better the health care system; it has taken time for what the health care has become today, thanks to the process that were introduced to the policy-makers.

References
DeGroff, A., & Cargo, M. (2009). Policy implementation: Implications for evaluation. New Directions for Evaluation, (124), 47-60. doi:10.1002/ev.313
Washington State Legislature. (). Retrieved from http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Overview.aspx
Office of Legislative Policy and Analysis (OFM) - Other Related Resources. (). Retrieved from http://olpa.od.nih.gov/
Theodoulou, & Kofinis. (2004). Public Policy-Making: Implementation, Evaluation, Change and Termination. Retrieved from https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/welcome/plsc490/print.html