Agency Synopsis Module 2 Assignment NUR 506 Influencing Health Policy

In your agency synopsis paper, Identify regulatory agencies that regulate health and the health care system within the US, create a table listing your 5 regulatory agencies and address the following:

1. Describe the agency, level of regulatory authority (local, state, federal), scope of regulatory
   authority, and role within the US healthcare system.
2. Address relevance of the organization or the organization’s authority to the APRN/DNP
   graduate.
3. Describe relevance to specialty area, area of practice, or setting of practice. For an example, mental health.

Agency Synopsis Submission Requirements:
In the table, write the 3 criteria above and respond to them.
The table is to be clear and concise and students will lose points for improper grammar,
punctuation and misspelling.
The table is to be complete and thorough. It should include all items indicated in the agency synopsis assignment.
Incorporate at least 3 current (published within last five years) scholarly journal
articles or primary legal sources (statutes, court opinions) within your agency synopsis.
Complete and submit the chart by 11:59 PM ET Sunday.

SAMPLE AGENCY SYNOPSIS ASSIGNMENT

Regulatory Agencies in the United States

	Agency description, level of regulatory authority, and scope of regulatory authority	Relevance of the organization to APRN/DNP graduate	Relevance to specialty area, area of practice, or setting of practice
Agency #1 Food and Drug Administration (FDA)	Agency Description: The FDA is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (FDA, n.d). It is responsible for protecting public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. Level of Regulatory Authority: The FDA has regulatory authority at the national level in the United States. It is a regulatory agency with the power to enforce laws and regulations related to the development, testing, manufacturing, labeling, and marketing of products under its jurisdiction, including drugs, medical devices, food products, and cosmetics (FDA, n.d). Scope of Regulatory Authority: The FDA’s scope of regulatory authority covers a wide range of products and activities (FDA, n.d). This includes overseeing the approval process for new drugs and medical devices, regulating the manufacturing and labeling of food and cosmetic products, monitoring the safety of products already on the market, and enforcing compliance with regulations.	Since the FDA controls the medications, medical equipment, and other items utilized in clinical practice, it is extremely important to APRN/DNP grads. It is essential to understand FDA laws, approval procedures, and safety monitoring in order to provide patients with safe, efficient, and evidence-based care (FDA, n.d).	The FDA is very important to the field of family health since it controls food safety, dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices—all important areas that affect patient care for patients of all ages (FDA, n.d). Family physicians depend on FDA-approved products and regulations to guarantee their patients receive safe and efficient care.
Agency #2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)	Agency Description: The CDC is one of the United States’ premier national public health organizations. It is the leading agency in the country for health promotion, prevention, and preparation, and one of the main operational divisions of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (CDC, 2022). Level of Regulatory Authority: Since the CDC is a government agency, it has nationwide regulatory jurisdiction. It does not, however, directly regulate the healthcare sector or healthcare providers; instead, its primary responsibilities are scientific research, surveillance, and guidance. In order to protect public health and safety via the prevention and control of illness, injury, and disability, the CDC provides a reliable source of advice and information (CDC, 2022). Scope of Regulatory Authority: The regulatory power of the CDC extends to a broad range of public health and safety-related fields. This includes doing epidemiological research to discover risk factors and illness patterns, monitoring and analyzing disease outbreaks, creating plans to stop the spread of infectious diseases, and surveillance and control of diseases (CDC, 2022). In addition, the CDC is essential to environmental health because it conducts studies and offers recommendations on environmental factors—like air pollution, water quality, and chemical exposures—that have an impact on human health.	For recent APRN/DNP graduates working in family care, the CDC is incredibly important since it provides essential guidelines, recommendations, and information about sickness prevention, health promotion, and disease management across the lifetime. This includes vaccine schedules, screening guidelines, chronic illness management procedures, and evidence-based tactics for promoting healthy lifestyles in families and communities in order to facilitate comprehensive and patient-centered care delivery (CDC, 2022).	The CDC offers vital guidelines, recommendations, and information related to illness prevention, health promotion, and disease management across the lifespan, making it extremely relevant for recent APRN/DNP grads working in family care. In order to enable complete and patient-centered care delivery, this includes immunization schedules, screening standards, chronic illness management protocols, and evidence-based strategies for encouraging healthy habits within families and communities.
Agency #3 The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality	Agency description: The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its primary focus is to conduct and support research aimed at improving the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of healthcare delivery in the US (AHRQ, n.d). Level of regulatory authority: AHRQ does not have direct regulatory authority over healthcare providers or organizations. Instead, it serves as a research agency that generates evidence-based information and tools to inform healthcare policies, practices, and decision-making. Scope of regulatory authority: As a non-regulatory agency, AHRQ’s scope of influence is through its research initiatives, which cover a wide range of healthcare topics, including patient safety, healthcare quality improvement, health information technology, healthcare costs and utilization, and evidence-based practice guidelines (AHRQ, n.d).	As key players in healthcare delivery and quality improvement, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) graduates find great relevance in AHRQ’s research and activities. The tools provided by AHRQ can be used by APRNs and DNPs to support system enhancements, apply best practices, improve patient outcomes, and guide clinical decision-making.	AHRQ’s resources are applicable to a wide range of practice areas because its research spans multiple healthcare settings and specialties (AHRQ, n.d),. Its efforts on hospital safety and quality metrics, for instance, are helpful for APRNs working in acute care settings, and its work on patient safety in primary care settings is advantageous for family nurse practitioners.
Agency #4 The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry	Agency description: The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is a federal public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (ATSDR, n.d). Its primary mission is to protect communities from harmful health effects related to exposure to natural and human-made hazardous substances in the environment. Level of regulatory authority: ATSDR does not have direct regulatory authority over environmental hazards or polluting entities. Instead, it serves an advisory role by conducting research, providing technical assistance, and making recommendations to other agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has regulatory powers (ATSDR, n.d). Scope of regulatory authority: As a non-regulatory agency, ATSDR’s scope of influence lies in its ability to assess the presence and nature of health hazards at specific sites, conduct public health assessments and consultations, provide education and training, and make recommendations to prevent or mitigate exposure to hazardous substances (ATSDR, n.d).	While the ATSDR may not directly impact the clinical practice of APRNs DNP graduates, its work is relevant to their role in promoting public health and environmental safety within communities they serve (ATSDR, n.d).	ATSDR’s research and recommendations on hazardous substances and their potential health effects can be valuable for APRNs and DNPs practicing in areas with environmental concerns or working with populations exposed to toxic substances. This information can inform their assessment, diagnosis, and management of potentially related health conditions (ATSDR, n.d).
Agency #5 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)	Agency description: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its primary responsibility is to oversee and administer the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which provide health coverage to millions of Americans, including the elderly, disabled, and low-income individuals (CMS, n.d). Level of regulatory authority: CMS has broad regulatory authority over the Medicare and Medicaid programs. It establishes policies, sets reimbursement rates, and enforces compliance with program requirements for healthcare providers, facilities, and health plans participating in Medicare and Medicaid. CMS also collaborates with states to administer the Medicaid program (CMS, n.d). Scope of regulatory authority: CMS’s regulatory authority covers various aspects of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, including provider enrollment, coverage and payment policies, quality standards, patient rights, and program integrity (CMS, n.d). Its regulations and guidelines impact a wide range of healthcare settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, and clinical laboratories.	The CMS is highly relevant to APRNs and DNP graduates, as its regulations and policies significantly impact the healthcare delivery system and reimbursement for services provided by these advanced nursing professionals.	CMS regulations and guidelines are applicable to various specialty areas, practice settings, and healthcare facilities where APRNs and DNPs work, including primary care, acute care, long-term care, and home health settings . Compliance with CMS requirements is essential for reimbursement and quality of care standards in these practice environments.

References

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). (n.d). about us. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/about/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). About CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/about/

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). (n.d). about us. https://www.cms.gov/

Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (n.d). About us. https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/what-we-do

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). (n.d). About us. https://www.ahrq.gov/