There are various health policy types and categories, including global, national, or local policies.
Public health policy
These are policies formed on a state, national, or community level. The goal is to promote healthy lifestyles for everyone and minimize or prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Mental health policy
These policies focus on promoting mental well-being and ensuring access and availability of quality treatments for those with mental health conditions.
Patient care policy
These policies include protocols and workflows for treatment procedures and medical operations. These help guide providers’ responses to medical conditions.
Drug policy
These policies provide guidelines and procedures for handling and administering pharmaceuticals. It can also guide how to handle mistakes like missing inventory, incorrect prescriptions, or incorrect administration of a medication.
Employee health policy
These policies provide guidelines and regulations to help safeguard and enhance employees’ health. This is especially important for healthcare facilities to reduce danger and exposure to harmful substances, diseases, or contaminants employees may encounter on the job.
Insurance policy
These policies aim to promote affordable or public insurance options, regulate what insurers can and cannot do, and determine the role that insurance plays in financing care.
Individuals involved in healthcare policy are often advocates, educators, researchers, and even litigators. Those involved also may include healthcare policy analysts who evaluate existing policies, looking for improvements to help provide better patient care.
People directly working with patients, like nurse practitioners, nurses, or doctors, can also play an important role in health policy. They have an inside perspective that can complement the experience of policymakers or government officials.