Interest Groups

Interest groups are key stakeholders in the policymaking process. Identify a public health
related or health care related interest group and describe their role in the policymaking
process. To what degree have you been involved in the policymaking process, either
through interest groups or as an individual? Describe your experience.

Interest Groups

Interest groups play a critical part in shaping governance in the policymaking process
through the desire for public participation in developing specific outcome standards (Stone &
Ladi, 2015). Cancer survivors form a special interest group in the policymaking process across
different states as they endeavor to have their inputs throughout the development of bills, statutes
and legislation affecting the population health. Within the healthcare policymaking and reform
process, interest groups provide critical information appertaining to a specific issue of concern
affecting the populations. First, the interest groups lobby leaders and health committees tasked
with formulating policies on the need to adopt various perspectives in pursuing specific
outcomes (Conklin Morris & Nolte, 2015). The interest groups act as public representatives.
Through their linkage role between the public and policymakers, interest groups continuously
suffice the public with relevant information regarding changes in health policy initiatives
affecting the public.
Second, interest groups in the healthcare policymaking endeavor to promote grassroots
mobilization through civic engagements by ensuring the public has a voice in the process
(Conklin et al., 2015). Grassroots mobilizations promote a proactive focus among the public to
engage in the policymaking process through diverse mechanisms in sustaining the application of

INTEREST GROUPS 2
appropriate knowledge in the policies. The interest groups strengthen the public orientation and
comprehension of the underlying public health issues that could impact on their effective
healthcare coverage (Conklin et al., 2015: Stone & Ladi, 2015). As such, interest groups may
shape the governance process through litigation against or for various public health policies and
shaping of their perspectives in healthcare. As part of the interest groups in the policymaking
process, I have had an opportunity of reaching out for the views of the public relating to
healthcare conversations that continue to form the basis of public health policy and consequently
health outcomes. Thus, my engagement in the team attempts to develop insights on the
progressive need for population-centered health policymaking across the state agencies and
committees.

INTEREST GROUPS 3

References

Conklin, A., Morris, Z., & Nolte, E. (2015). What is the evidence base for public involvement in
health‐care policy? Results of a systematic scoping review. Health Expectations, 18(2),
153-165.
Stone, D., & Ladi, S. (2015). Global public policy and transnational administration. Public
Administration, 93(4), 839-855.