4. Health Systems, Law, and Policy

 

Do you know the difference between a law and policy? How have laws and policies impacted your daily work?

Federal laws and policies, as well as state and local ones, will shape much of your work.

Laws and policies, however, are not the same thing, so be sure you understand the difference. Periodically review any local board of health regulations in your community, and update your work as necessary.

You should also be familiar with the municipal by-laws that impact public health - things like zoning restrictions, wetland protection measures, and building setbacks can all impact your public health programs.

 

After completing this section, you will be able to:

  • Explain how public health laws and policies shape population health
  • Contrast laws and policies at the federal level
  • Summarize the status of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
  • Differentiate between Medicare and Medicaid
  • Describe the impact of hospital consolidations on health care providers

Recording 4A

Listen to this recording (approximately 23 minutes).

alternative accessible content

 

Action Item

Manual of Laws and Regulations Relating to Boards of Health

Print, save, or bookmark the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Manual of Laws and Regulations Relating to Boards of Health. Review this manual to familiarize yourself with the large scope of responsibilities that local boards of health in Massachusetts have.

  • Local boards of health oversee a wide range of public health control and prevention activities (disease surveillance and investigation, environmental and sanitary code enforcement, food protection, nuisance abatement, and many more)
  • The Manual supports the concept that oftentimes critical health problems are best handled by local officials who are familiar with the community and the conditions

Recording 4B

Listen to this recording (approximately 20 minutes).

alternative accessible content

 

Action Item

Review this tabbed activity to learn more about the differences between laws and policies (adapted from DifferenceBetween.net).

 


Both laws and policies are needed in society to help maintain law and order, and to shape political and social aspects.

While policies and laws are often interrelated, they are definitely two different things with different purposes.

Laws are standards, principles, and procedures that are to be followed in society. Laws are primarily designed to ensure justice in society.

There are various types of laws, such as:

  • criminal
  • civil 
  • international 

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is an example of a law.

Policies outline what a government is going to do (or not going to do), and what it can achieve for society as a whole.

Policy evolves the principles that are needed for achieving a goal.

Key point: Policies are only documents (not laws), but policies can inform and lead to new laws.

 

  

Recording 4C

Listen to this recording (approximately 20 minutes).

alternative accessible content

 

Action Item

Health Care Access

Take a moment to think about the consequences you see in your community as a result of changes in policies or laws related to health care access.

Specifically, consider these questions:

  1. Has hospital consolidation occurred in your community?
  2. If so, has that consolidation led to an increase or a decrease in access to care?