NR 506 Week 4 Assignment; Preparation of Presentation to Elected Official: Session

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PREPARATION OF PRESENTATION: TELEHEALTH AND THE eTREAT ACT Week 4: Preparation of Presentation to Elected Official – Telehealth and the eTreat Act Terrance A. McClain, Jr. Chamberlain College of ... Nursing NR-506: Healthcare Policy August 2018 This study source was downloaded by 100000831988016 from CourseHero.com on 05-02-2022 06:47:08 GMT -05:00 https://www.coursehero.com/file/35508886/NR506-Week-4-Assignmentdocx/ TELEHEALTH AND THE eTREAT ACT Overview of healthcare policy concern and proposed solution Finding solutions to the opioid epidemic that is plaguing our nation is a matter of frequent public debate. While some advocate proactive action to reduce the access to both prescription and illegal controlled substances, others choose to focus on the treatment of the underlying disease of addiction. The use of telehealth services is becoming increasingly accepted as a viable treatment option to address substance use disorders. Benavides-Vaello, Strode and Sheeran (2013) found that “research supports that the use of telehealth in the delivery of substance abuse services is effective, produces higher completion rates to traditional services, and that clients may prefer telehealth sessions because of its convenience and perceived increase in confidentiality” (Benavides-Vaello, Strode & Sheeran 2013, p. 115). However, as I noted in a previous paper written for a Nursing Informatics class (Chamberlain University, NR 512), restrictions on reimbursement for telehealth services through Medicare and Medicaid are enormous obstacles to the successful large-scale implementation of telehealth treatment of individuals suffering from substance use disorder. (McClain, 2018, NR 512). One solution to this problem is currently pending in the United States Senate in Senate Bill 2901. As I noted in the previous paper written for a Nursing Informatics class (Chamberlain University, NR 512), the Expanding Telehealth Response to Ensure Addiction Treatment Act (hereinafter “eTREAT Act”), introduced in the United States Senate on May 22, 2018 by Senator John Thune (R-SD) and eight other Senators, proposes amendments to section XVIII of the Social Security Act that would eliminate restrictions and fees for the use of telehealth services provided after January 1, 2019 for the treatment of substance use disorder (GovTrack, 2018). The eTREAT Act is particularly relevant to this issue, because as Sweeney (2018) noted, the This study source was downloaded by 100000831988016 from CourseHero.com on 05-02-2022 06:47:08 GMT -05:00 https://www.coursehero.com/file/35508886/NR506-Week-4-Assignmentdocx/ TELEHEALTH AND THE eTREAT ACT fastest-growing rates of opioid use disorder are found among Medicare patients who have substance use disorders (Sweeney, 2018, para. 8). The passage of the eTREAT Act and the resulting increase in the availability of telehealth services for treatment of substance use disorder, would directly benefit the Veteran population, many of whom are homeless and addicted, is one population that would benefit from the availability of telehealth services for the treatment of their substance use disorder. Identification of communication techniques I will be interviewing Pennsylvania Congressman Keith Rothfus, who represents Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. I chose this individual because the eTreat Act proposes amendments to section XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove restrictions and fees associated with the use of telehealth services provided after January 1, 2019 for the treatment of substance use disorder (GovTrack, 2018). Therefore, the eTreat Act is a piece of federal legislation which, if it is approved by the United States Senate, will ultimately considered by the Unites States House of Representatives. Congressman Rothfus would then be in a position to consider this pending legislation, making him an individual who can directly affect and influence healthcare policy. In doing so, however, I must effectively communicate to him the healthcare concern and my proposed solution to that concern. Persuasive communication has been defined as “any message that is intended to shape, reinforce or change the responses of another or others” (Stiff & Mongeau, 2016, p. 4). In order to effectively persuade a listener to change their attitude or opinion regarding any specific issue, it is important to engage in effective communication techniques. Non-verbal techniques are just as important as the content of the message that is conveyed. Such non-verbal communication This study source was downloaded by 100000831988016 from CourseHero.com on 05-02-2022 06:47:08 GMT -05:00 https://www.coursehero.com/file/35508886/NR506-Week-4-Assignmentdocx/ TELEHEALTH AND THE eTREAT ACT techniques include presenting a good appearance, maintaining good eye contact, making good use of facial expressions; these and other non-verbal techniques are essential to establishing credibility with the listener (Burton, 2017). When engaging in discussions with policymakers, there are three additional techniques that, combined with the non-verbal aspects of communication, will be helpful in conveying information in a persuasive manner. According to Cairney and Kwiatkowski (2017), these three specific techniques are identifying the chosen target audience, taking advantage of the best timing to achieve the best result with the audience (i.e., identifying the optimal window of opportunity), and finally, taking a realistic approach to the process of policymaking and conveying an acceptance of the realities that either impede or facilitate one’s efforts to influence the audience. (Cairney & Kwiatkowski, 2017). I have considered all of these four communication techniques in developing my presentation to Congressman Rothfus. Self-evaluation of the video presentation In preparing the video presentation, I recognize that there are both areas in which my message was effectively conveyed, and areas in which I can use improvement. With regard to the content of my video presentation, I feel that overall, I was able to convey my message, but I recognize that I did repeat information that perhaps was not necessary. I acknowledge that repetition can be a way of stressing a point, but in this case, there are areas where I should refrain from doing so. The method of delivery for the presentation can definitely use some improvement. Although I believe that I used proper grammar throughout the video, I also believe that my opening can be more interesting and engaging, and that I should make the presentation more personalized to my selected official so to keep him connected to my presentation of the healthcare concern a [Show More]

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