HCA-255 DQ’s
TOPIC 1 DQ 1
The executive branch of the federal and state governments enforces health policies based upon the
priorities that they give for scarce resources or funds. Explain why a specific priority may be given to
fighting a local disease in your home state by the current government and what agencies may be
tasked to head this effort.
Priority is given to diseases that have the impact to affect a large number of people in such a short
amount of time which can result in either death or hospitalization. If officials start to see a steady
increase in the public, they may issue a quarantine, while they study the disease to see who is
most likely to get it. The flu is a disease the infects many older and immunocompromised people
during the fall and winter since their immune system is weaker than the average person (CDC, 2020).
To combat the flu from spreading the government started to give vaccinations, told people to cover
the mouth and nose when they sneeze, to wash their hands good, limit contact with someone who
has it, and avoid touching your face. If you do end up with the flu your doctor can prescribe
medication to fight it. The reason why the flu was dangerous was because it was spreading so
quickly to many people without their knowledge and attacking their system to the point where they
had to be hospitalized or they died, but because the government took action you don’t hear much
about the flu being an epidemic anymore because of all the preventive measures we have now.
CDC. (2020). People at high risks for flu complications. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/index.htm
Topic 1 DQ 2
Health laws are passed by the legislative branch of federal and state governments. These laws often
rely upon allocating funds to the executive branch to enforce them. Please provide an example of a
historic law that was passed at the federal or state level that is not currently funded for enforcement.
Getting bills to be laws are hard because it has to go through the House of Representatives, The
Senate, and the President. When laws are made the House and Senate, sometimes the President, are
all in agreement for the bill and it will become a law. HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and
Accounting Act of 1996 is a federal law that prevents health care staff from giving out a patients
information unless the patients allows them to do so. However, there are certain times when this law is
revoked such as, when required by the law, during court proceedings, abuse, neglect, identification of
the deceased, etc.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
of 1996 (HIPAA). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/publications/topic/hipaa.html#:~:text=The
%20Health%20Insurance%20Portability%20and,the%20patient%27s%20consent%20or%20knowledge.
Page 1 of 11
, Topic 2 DQ 1
Executive branch policies may differ from the needs of public health policy. Almost 5% of the world’s
population died of the Spanish flu during World War I, possibly because the spread of the disease was
not shared because it was thought that the public may not support the war effort. Provide another
example of a time in U.S. history when an executive policy contradicted a health policy.
PRESIDENT RONALD REGAN DID NOT TAKE THE CASES OF AIDS
SERIOUSLY WHEN HE WAS THE PRESIDENT. AIDS WAS FIRST DISCOVER
IN 1981 WHEN THERE WERE FEW CASES. REAGAN DID NOT ANNOUNCE
THE DISCOVERY OF THE DISEASE UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF 1985 (HIV.GOV,
N.D.). THAT IS FOUR YEARS HE HAD TO PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE THE
CRISIS THAT IS BECAUSE IT WAS CONSIDERED A “GAY PANDEMIC”,
WHICH AT THAT TIME MANY PEOPLE CONSIDERED GAY PEOPLE AS
Page 2 of 11
TOPIC 1 DQ 1
The executive branch of the federal and state governments enforces health policies based upon the
priorities that they give for scarce resources or funds. Explain why a specific priority may be given to
fighting a local disease in your home state by the current government and what agencies may be
tasked to head this effort.
Priority is given to diseases that have the impact to affect a large number of people in such a short
amount of time which can result in either death or hospitalization. If officials start to see a steady
increase in the public, they may issue a quarantine, while they study the disease to see who is
most likely to get it. The flu is a disease the infects many older and immunocompromised people
during the fall and winter since their immune system is weaker than the average person (CDC, 2020).
To combat the flu from spreading the government started to give vaccinations, told people to cover
the mouth and nose when they sneeze, to wash their hands good, limit contact with someone who
has it, and avoid touching your face. If you do end up with the flu your doctor can prescribe
medication to fight it. The reason why the flu was dangerous was because it was spreading so
quickly to many people without their knowledge and attacking their system to the point where they
had to be hospitalized or they died, but because the government took action you don’t hear much
about the flu being an epidemic anymore because of all the preventive measures we have now.
CDC. (2020). People at high risks for flu complications. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/highrisk/index.htm
Topic 1 DQ 2
Health laws are passed by the legislative branch of federal and state governments. These laws often
rely upon allocating funds to the executive branch to enforce them. Please provide an example of a
historic law that was passed at the federal or state level that is not currently funded for enforcement.
Getting bills to be laws are hard because it has to go through the House of Representatives, The
Senate, and the President. When laws are made the House and Senate, sometimes the President, are
all in agreement for the bill and it will become a law. HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and
Accounting Act of 1996 is a federal law that prevents health care staff from giving out a patients
information unless the patients allows them to do so. However, there are certain times when this law is
revoked such as, when required by the law, during court proceedings, abuse, neglect, identification of
the deceased, etc.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
of 1996 (HIPAA). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/publications/topic/hipaa.html#:~:text=The
%20Health%20Insurance%20Portability%20and,the%20patient%27s%20consent%20or%20knowledge.
Page 1 of 11
, Topic 2 DQ 1
Executive branch policies may differ from the needs of public health policy. Almost 5% of the world’s
population died of the Spanish flu during World War I, possibly because the spread of the disease was
not shared because it was thought that the public may not support the war effort. Provide another
example of a time in U.S. history when an executive policy contradicted a health policy.
PRESIDENT RONALD REGAN DID NOT TAKE THE CASES OF AIDS
SERIOUSLY WHEN HE WAS THE PRESIDENT. AIDS WAS FIRST DISCOVER
IN 1981 WHEN THERE WERE FEW CASES. REAGAN DID NOT ANNOUNCE
THE DISCOVERY OF THE DISEASE UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF 1985 (HIV.GOV,
N.D.). THAT IS FOUR YEARS HE HAD TO PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE THE
CRISIS THAT IS BECAUSE IT WAS CONSIDERED A “GAY PANDEMIC”,
WHICH AT THAT TIME MANY PEOPLE CONSIDERED GAY PEOPLE AS
Page 2 of 11
