Health policy refers to "decisions, plans, and actions that are undertaken to achieve specific health care goals within a society." An explicit health policy can define a vision for the future, which helps establish targets and points of reference for short and medium term progress. A health policy can also outline priorities and expected roles of different groups, as well as build consensus and inform people.
Definition from the World Health Organization
Social Security Act (1935)
The Social Security Act (SSA) was created to provide for the general welfare by establishing a system of Federal old-age benefits. It also allowed states to make more adequate provisions for aged persons, blind persons, dependent and crippled children, maternal and child welfare, public health, and unemployment.
Social Security Amendments (1965)
President Lyndon Johnson signed Titles XVIII and XIX of the SSA in 1965, establishing Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare was comprised of two related health insurance plans for those aged 65 and over: 1) a hospital insurance plan providing protection against the costs of hospital and related care, and 2) a supplementary medical insurance plan covering payments for physicians' services and other medical services not covered by the hospital insurance plan. Medicaid provided an insurance option for low-income individuals.
Social Security Amendments (1972)
President Richard Nixon signed Public Law 92-603 into law in 1972 to amend Title XVIII of the SSA. One of the major provisions of PL 92-603 included expansion of Medicare coverage to disabled people who had received SSA benefits for at least two years.
Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973
President Richard Nixon signed this into law to promote prepaid group practice service plans, or health maintenance organizations (HMOs), as opposed to more traditional fee-for-service plans.
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA)
COBRA provides rights to temporary continuation of group health plan coverage for certain employees, retirees, and family members at group rates when coverage is lost due to certain qualifying events.
Health Insurance Probability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
HIPAA limited the extent to which insurance companies could exclude people with pre-existing conditions or job loss. It also reduced health care fraud and abuse, and established national standards for the privacy and security of electronic health information.
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
CHIP is a public healthcare program for children in low-income families that make too much to qualify for Medicaid. CHIP was created in 1997 with the passage of the Balanced Budget Act under President Bill Clinton.
Affordable Care Act (2010)
The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, aimed to provide an expansion of health insurance coverage to more Americans through both individual health insurance exchanges as well as through employer-provided plans. Minimum requirements of coverage were established, enforced by tax penalties for individuals who fail to secure insurance. The ACA also offers health care professionals the opportunity to participate in shaping the delivery of patient services. Most of the law's major provisions were implemented in 2014.
State and national statutes, rules, and regulations help guide, authorize, and define nursing practice. Below are a list of resources at the national and state levels that can help you better understand health care rules and regulations.
National Level
State Level (Pennsylvania)