- Advocating for Medication Access Identify one national population health goal or objective that relates to the identified risk or disparity such as Healthy People 2030 or another national initiative
- Propose one strategy for the advanced practice nurse to collaborate at the local state or national levels to advocate for the health of the vulnerable population and advance the identified Healthy People 2030 goal or objective
- Identify the stakeholders with whom the advanced practice nurse could collaborate.
- Provide an in-text citation from two scholarly sources to support your writing.
National Health Objective and Advocacy Strategy
Healthy People 2030 Objective
A key national health objective related to the health risks of low-income older adults is “Reduce the proportion of older adults who use inappropriate medications” (OA-02) from Healthy People 2030 (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion [ODPHP], 2023). Many low-income seniors struggle with medication affordability, leading to non-adherence or reliance on high-risk prescriptions due to cost constraints. Addressing this issue can improve chronic disease management and reduce preventable hospitalizations.
Advanced Practice Nurse Advocacy Strategy
An advanced practice nurse (APN) can advocate for this vulnerable population by collaborating with state and local policymakers to expand prescription assistance programs. One effective strategy is to work with state Medicaid programs and nonprofit organizations to increase awareness and accessibility of medication subsidy programs such as the Medicare Extra Help program. By providing community-based medication counseling and educational workshops, APNs can help older adults better navigate prescription affordability options, improving medication adherence and health outcomes (Hughes et al., 2022).
Stakeholders for Collaboration
To advance this initiative, the APN should collaborate with:
- State and Local Health Departments – To implement policies that expand prescription drug coverage for seniors.
- Community Health Organizations – To provide medication counseling and education on cost-saving programs.
- Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs – To secure funding and resources for affordable medications.
- Legislators and Advocacy Groups – To support policies that reduce medication costs and increase healthcare funding for low-income older adults.
By engaging these stakeholders, APNs can influence policy, increase awareness, and directly improve medication access for vulnerable older adults, aligning with Healthy People 2030 goals.
References
Hughes, C. M., Barry, H. E., & Motterlini, N. (2022). Improving medication management in older adults: A policy and practice perspective. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 34(2), 123-140.
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2023). Healthy People 2030: Older adults. Retrieved from www.health.gov APA