Identify three major policy issues that affect the current state of health care delivery and population health equity in the United States. What impact do these population health policies and initiatives have on advanced nursing practice?    

Three major policy issues that affect the current state of healthcare delivery and population health equity in the United States are access to care, cost of care, and patient engagement. Access to care is a policy issue because individuals who lack resources such as insurance or transportation may struggle to receive quality healthcare services. Cost of care is another policy issue that may prevent some individuals from seeking medical attention due to high out-of-pocket expenses or limited insurance coverage. Finally, patient engagement has become increasingly important as it addresses many factors that influence an individual’s overall health outcomes including self-management strategies and lifestyle choices.

The impact of these policies on advanced nursing practice include increased focus on providing quality care for underserved populations. This includes initiatives such as improving access to healthcare through telehealth services or expanding community collaboration programs in order to identify potential gaps in care. Additionally, nurse practitioners have been instrumental in developing innovative models of payment reform which increase affordability while also promoting better coordination among providers. Lastly, nurses have played an integral role in encouraging improved patient engagement by educating patients about their health conditions and involving them more actively in their own treatment plans.