An important purpose of this assignment is to examine what the different branches and layers of government do to address a policy using a current issue to illustrate it.
Complete a research essay on the government and healthcare. Remember this is being written for the president to read.
The U.S. healthcare system has been a controversial topic for decades. Here are the aspects and questions to address for this essay:
- Identify a current issue being debated about the American healthcare system and state a preferred solution to it and why it's preferred (This is your thesis statement).
- Explain two competing solutions to this problem while addressing the responsibilities of each level of government (federal, state, and local) and the three branches of the federal government (executive, legislative, and judicial).
- Build the argument for why your chosen solution is preferable, what critics say about the solution, and finally why the critics are wrong.
Full Answer Section
Responsibilities of each level of government: The federal government, state governments, and local governments all have a role to play in the healthcare system.
- Federal government: The federal government is responsible for setting national healthcare policy, such as Medicare and Medicaid. The federal government also provides funding for healthcare research and for public health programs.
- State governments: State governments are responsible for regulating the healthcare industry and for providing healthcare to low-income residents.
- Local governments: Local governments may provide healthcare services, such as public hospitals and clinics.
Responsibilities of the three branches of the federal government: The three branches of the federal government (executive, legislative, and judicial) all have a role to play in the healthcare system.
- Executive branch: The executive branch is responsible for implementing healthcare policy. The president appoints the secretary of health and human services, who is responsible for overseeing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS is responsible for administering Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal healthcare programs.
- Legislative branch: The legislative branch is responsible for making healthcare law. The House of Representatives and the Senate both have committees that oversee healthcare policy. The legislative branch also passes the budget, which includes funding for healthcare programs.
- Judicial branch: The judicial branch interprets healthcare law. The Supreme Court has ruled on a number of healthcare cases, including the Affordable Care Act.
Argument for why the chosen solution is preferable: The single-payer solution is preferable to the market-based solution because it would provide universal healthcare to all Americans. This would ensure that everyone has access to the care they need, regardless of their income or employment status. The single-payer solution would also be more efficient than the market-based solution, as there would be no need for private health insurance companies to take a profit.
Criticisms of the chosen solution: Critics of the single-payer solution argue that it would be too expensive and that it would lead to long wait times for care. However, studies have shown that single-payer systems are actually more efficient than market-based systems. Additionally, wait times for care in single-payer systems are typically shorter than wait times in the United States.
Why the critics are wrong: The critics of the single-payer solution are wrong. The single-payer solution would be more affordable than the current system, and it would lead to shorter wait times for care. The single-payer solution is the best way to ensure that all Americans have access to quality, affordable healthcare.
In conclusion, the high cost of healthcare is a major problem in the United States. The preferred solution is a single-payer healthcare system, which would be funded by the government and would provide universal healthcare to all Americans. The single-payer solution is more affordable and efficient than the market-based solution, and it would ensure that everyone has access to the care they need.
Sample Answer
Thesis statement: The current issue being debated about the American healthcare system is the high cost of healthcare. The preferred solution is a single-payer healthcare system, which would be funded by the government and would provide universal healthcare to all Americans.
Two competing solutions: The two competing solutions to the high cost of healthcare are a market-based solution and a single-payer solution.
- Market-based solution: A market-based solution would rely on private health insurance companies to provide healthcare to Americans. The government would regulate the market to ensure that competition is fair and that consumers have access to affordable coverage.
- Single-payer solution: A single-payer solution would eliminate private health insurance and would have the government provide healthcare to all Americans. The government would raise taxes to pay for the system, but most Americans would save money on their healthcare costs.