NURS FPX 4060 Assessment 3 Disaster Recovery Plan Influence of Health and Governmental Policies on Disaster Recovery Endeavors

Disaster recovery activities in the Vila Health community are significantly impacted by public health and governmental policies. Policies such as the “Affordable Care Act (ACA)” and “Medicaid” expansion have improved access to healthcare services and increased resources for disaster recovery efforts. The ACA has increased the number of individuals with health insurance coverage, thereby improving their ability to access healthcare services during disasters. For example, individuals with health insurance coverage may have better access to emergency services, evacuation assistance, and post-disaster healthcare, contributing to more timely and effective response and recovery efforts (Finucane et al., 2020).

 Medicaid expansion has increased the number of healthcare providers and resources available to underserved communities. This can be beneficial during disaster recovery efforts, where increased demand for healthcare services may arise. For instance, in a disaster-affected community with expanded Medicaid coverage, more individuals may have access to healthcare providers, medications, and medical supplies, improving their ability to receive necessary medical care and support during the recovery process (Dueñas-Espín et al., 2023).

NURS FPX 4060 Assessment 3 Disaster Recovery Plan

Several studies have highlighted the importance of leveraging policies to enhance disaster recovery efforts and improve access to healthcare services. For example, a study found that disaster recovery plans that align with health and governmental policies, such as increased funding for recovery efforts and improved access to healthcare services, are more effective in addressing the needs of vulnerable populations (Ramesh et al., 2023). Another study demonstrated that policies that prioritize equitable distribution of resources during disaster recovery, regardless of socioeconomic status, lead to better health outcomes and faster community resilience.

In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO, 2021) has emphasized the importance of aligning disaster recovery plans with existing health and governmental policies e.g., The National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) to ensure that vulnerable populations have equal access to resources and services. increase funding for disaster recovery efforts and   access to healthcare services can be leveraged to support the implementation of the disaster recovery plan. It can increase funding for disaster recovery efforts and improve access to healthcare services, along with  strong collaboration among all the stakeholders involved  (Finucane et al., 2020).

Another important policy that can impact disaster recovery efforts are social welfare policy. Social welfare policies, such as unemployment benefits, housing assistance, and food assistance programs, can play a critical role in supporting individuals and communities affected by disasters. For example, social welfare policies can mitigate the economic impact of disasters and ensure affordable and safe housing options for vulnerable populations, contributing to effective and equitable disaster recovery efforts (Jones et al., 2020).