Introduction
The healthcare sphere is one of the most important yet problematic in the U.S. Policymakers create federal and state interventions aimed at specific groups or problems to address various issues and concerns better. Thus, drafting proposed laws is the responsibility of the legislative branch (USAGov, 2023), and this paper seeks to review a current bill in Congress. Low awareness of abortion risks and inadequate access to this procedure are severe medical issues in America, so the selected bill concerns this matter.
Overview of Relevant Legislation or Regulation
First, it is essential to mention the key characteristics and objectives of the chosen legislation that impact quality and safety in healthcare. H.R.9247, also known as the Abortion Care Awareness Act of 2022, was first introduced in the House of Representatives on December 28, 2022 (Congress, 2022). This pro-choice legislation is currently being referred to the Subcommittee on Health. The bill’s key sponsor is Representative Carolyn B. Maloney from the Democratic Party, and thirty co-sponsors of this initiative are also Democrats (Congress, 2022). Concerning the bill’s objective, it seeks to make the Department of Health and Human Services organize an awareness-raising campaign. To be more precise, the campaign will educate Americans about accessing abortion and similar medical procedures, spread credible information concerning medication abortions, and cover the legality of traveling to other states to receive such services.
Impact on Target Group
It is impossible to overestimate the positive effects that the legislation can have on the target population. Many females suffer yearly from low access to quality abortion services, unawareness of various options, and social stigmatization of this process in general. Women are often deprived of this choice, leading to mental issues, worsened family relationships, and other problems (Roberts et al., 2020).
It is relatively rare that teenage girls and adult women are educated about the advantages and disadvantages of abortion or whether it is legally possible to go to another state where this medical service is permitted. Many females are unaware of the health complications they may have if accessing poor-quality or illegal abortion. All these factors adversely influence the population, and the bill will contribute to the elimination of these issues and help females feel safer and more aware.
Improving Quality and Safety in Healthcare
How the Legislation or Regulation Enhances Healthcare Quality and Safety
There are several ways that the bill can enhance the healthcare field. According to Declercq et al. (2022), it was found that “maternal death rates were 62 percent higher in 2020 in abortion-restriction states than in abortion-access states” (para. 5). These negative statistics affect nationwide patient outcomes, and the legislation can result in their improvement. Women will not have to access risky or poor-quality abortions because they will be more educated on the matter. This will eventually reduce the number of dangerous abortions and maternal deaths.
Potential Benefits for Nursing or Healthcare Practice
Nurses should participate in promoting this bill because they have the power to make it receive more public support (Mason et al., 2021). One of the problems in healthcare will be successfully addressed. It is also likely that the number of abortions will decrease as females will be more aware of this procedure and capable of making their own informed decisions.
Conclusion
To conclude, various legislations can significantly improve the medical sphere. The selected bill aims to enhance individuals’ understanding of different abortion methods, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as raise awareness about the legality of accessing this procedure in other states. The Abortion Care Awareness Act of 2022 can improve the experiences of women, who are the target population and reduce maternal death rates, enhancing their outcomes and healthcare in general.
References
Congress. (2022). H.R.9247 – Abortion Care Awareness Act of 2022. Web.
Declercq, E., Barnard-Mayers, R., Zephyrin, L. C., & Johnson, K. (2022). The U.S. maternal health divide: The limited maternal health services and worse outcomes of states proposing new abortion restrictions. The Commonwealth Fund. Web.
Mason, D. J., Dickson, E., McLemore, M. R., & Perez, G. A. (2021). Policy & politics in nursing and health care. Elsevier.
Roberts, S. C., Berglas, N. F., & Kimport, K. (2020). Complex situations: Economic insecurity, mental health, and substance use among pregnant women who consider–but do not have–abortions. PloS ONE, 15(1). Web.
USAGov. (2023). Branches of the U.S. government. Web.