The expansion of health insurance through health care reform has reduced the number of uninsured. but access to providers has not been addressed. Understanding the relationship between practice choices and aptitude of health policy and delivery is essential to determine other factors or motivators that contribute to the development of health care access policies. This descriptive study explored the value-laden elements of health care reform, such as social constructions, to learn whether there are implicit ways to address the issue of access to health care in the United States. Schneider and Ingrams's conceptualization of policy making through social construction was used as the theoretical lens of this study. The research questions for the study examined the relationship between a provider's choices and their knowledge of health policy and delivery. This non-experimental, quantitative survey study used a convenience sample of 189 providers. The survey was a compilation of 4 existing instruments that were used to capture provider demographics and choices as well as scaled questions to assess knowledge. Data were analyzed through a series of chi-square tests. Significant relationships were found (p < .05) between the variables of specialty, medical licensure, and understanding of health policy and delivery concepts. This study contributes to social change by suggesting the need for health policy and delivery education programs geared towards providers. These changes could improve the level of provider engagement and be a catalyst for generating ideas of how the U.S. health care system could achieve the goal of providing efficient, high-quality care.

For several decades, a national shortage of licensed clinical social workers has been growing in the United States. Licensed social workers provide counsel and advocacy for those affected by mental illness, addiction, abuse, and discrimination, among other economic difficulties, and are the largest group of providers of mental and behavioral health services. The research questions for this project addressed what challenges unlicensed social workers in central Florida identify as barriers to pursuing clinical licensure. This study also explored strategies that unlicensed social workers in central Florida reported to address these barriers and encourage the pursuit of clinical licensure. The purpose of this research was to identify both the barriers that social worker's report in seeking their licensure and effective strategies to address the barriers. The theoretical framework to inform the project was systems theory. An action research design was used including a focus group of 5 unlicensed social workers, selected through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Study outcomes showed that social workers in central Florida chose not to pursue licensure because of the cost and time associated with the process. Changes recommended as part of this research may bring about social change through an increase in the number of licensed social workers to assist Floridians who seek such services.