healthcare response

Consider a time when there was an issue related to healthcare policy in your local,
regional, or national community. If you pursued an opportunity to address the issue,
describe the results. If you did not pursue the opportunity, describe the reasons.
A local issue related to healthcare policy would be the implementation of The Thomas Bloom
Raskin Act. This bill was passed July 1, 2021, and required 211 Maryland to make periodic calls
and provide individuals with a mental health referral when enlisted in their mental health service
program (HB 812, 2021). 211 Maryland is a nonprofit free and confidential service that connects
Marylanders with health, crisis, and social service resources. It is available 24/7/365 via phone
on the internet and can be translated into over 150 languages (211 Maryland, 2021).
Implementation of The Thomas Bloom Raskin Act could potentially help those suffering from
mental health issues such as opioid use, suicide, and alcohol addiction. Providing a referral and
staying connected to this vulnerable population could reduce the risk of chronic diseases,
promote positive outcomes and decrease mortality rates.
I did not pursue addressing the above issue because I did not know the bill existed and did not
have experience in politics or policymaking.
1. Propose an area of your political competency that needs further development and an
action you could take to become more politically competent to impact your selected
population.
Politics and policymaking are areas needing improvement, and I am willing to enhance my
knowledge in both. According to Johnson (2021), nurse leaders must have political competence
to collaborate with legislators and advocate for better nursing practices. This process requires
patience, and nursing leaders should also be active in a professional organization. Doing so helps
to stay updated on legislative issues of nursing practices and patient outcomes. Furthermore,
nursing organizations such as the America Nurses Association developed guidelines to help with
communicating and engaging with legislators (Johnson, 2021). Ways to become political
competent could include:
 Researching your local legislative representatives
 Attend local council and town hall meetings.
 Signup for your elected official's newsletter
 Meet with legislator or their support staff person (American Nurses Association, 2019).
Moreover, local campaign involvement, such as preparing campaign literature or making calls to
support candidates, helps increase political competence (Johnson, 2021). Having political

competence can impact the community, affect patient outcomes, and impact evidence-based
practices.