Healthcare Public Policy and the Legislative Process

This course provides students an opportunity to transform a healthcare policy-related idea or problem into policy and legislation reform, change, or development. Students examine political and legislative procedures; the functions of government agencies; the influences of lobbyists, public hearings and testimonies; and advocacy efforts on these processes. Students objectively evaluate how policy changes occur at the federal and state levels and subsequently affect citizens from differing backgrounds and professionals in a variety of settings. As such, students explore the importance of developing relationships, communicating, and creating advocacy strategies with elected officials and various stakeholder groups that interact with the federal and state legislative processes.