Week 3 Assignment: Policy Brief

You will create a policy brief that will either advocate reinforcement of the current Affordable Care Act policies or opt to advocate alternative healthcare policies. This brief is to be addressed to your local congressman/congresswoman.

Select one of the following topics:

• Smoking in a designated area
• Food service workers washing hands before food preparation
• Healthy food preparation

The brief:

• Title: Include a title page. A good title communicates the brief’s content in a short, easy-to-remember, way
• Executive summary: This section provides an overview of the problem and the proposed policy action (1–2 paragraphs).
• Problem context or scope: This section provides the reader with information on the importance of the problem, as well as the need for immediate (policy) action (2–3 paragraphs). Discuss the public health impacts both positive and negative in your community. State how the proposed policy changes will improve health in various populations.
• Policy alternatives: This section provides a review of the current policy approach and proposed options. The information/argument should be fair and accurate while convincing the reader why the policy action proposed will provide the most effective solution (1 page).
• Policy recommendations: This section presents a detailed explanation of the concrete steps to be initiated to address the policy issue (1 page).
• Conclusion: A conclusion paragraph with a closing, persuasive argument and summary statement.

End of brief:

• References (APA), if needed
• Appendix section, if needed, to provide support information for the policy and strengthen the points made on behalf of the policy

Use current APA formatting to style your paper and to cite your sources. Integrate your sources into the paragraphs. Use internal citations pointing to evidence in the literature and supporting your ideas. You will need to include a reference page listing those sources.

Week 3 Assignment: Policy Brief Answer

      In the commitment to decrease smoking behaviors of Americans and increase health availability and accessibility to the American smokers, the Tobacco Use Cessation and Control of the Affordable Care Act encouraged health insurance companies a surcharge of up to 50% for enrolled patients who use tobacco products compared to those who do not.