Directions:
Construct a concise, well-argued memorandum to the policy decision-maker of your choice about a current, specific health policy issue. The memo should be no more than 1,000 words (about two pages single-spaced, not counting any annex), and must use the following structure:

1. BLUF Statement or “Bottom Line Up Front”
• States the problem in terms specific to the goal of the decision-maker. Directly addresses the decision-maker’s needs in the opening lines.
• Tells the decision-maker why a policy change is (or is not) needed.
• Briefly details the problem. Be careful to focus on the problem, not the background.
2. Explanation of the pros and cons leading up to your recommendations
• Review the Current Policy – What is it and why is it done this way? Assess briefly how well it is or is not working.
• Statement on the Necessity for Change – What new circumstances have called the status quo into question?
• Discuss the alternatives to the current policy by enumerating and explaining each policy option in turn.
• Explain the pros and cons of each policy option. You may select pros and cons through the lens of such core features as (1) political feasibility, (2) economic feasibility/cost effectiveness, (3) administrative feasibility, (4) equity, and/or (5) other rationales such as security or environmental consequences.
• Compare or contrast the key options (including the current policy or status quo). This is the most important part of the memo because it establishes the rational authority and credibility for the recommendations that follow.
3. Explanation of the Recommendations
• Identify which option will be recommended and which options will be discounted.
• Lay out the argument for why that option is better than each of the others.
4. Implementation or Next Steps
• Briefly identify how and when to implement your recommendation. If there are significant risks, costs, or obstacles associated with implementation, you should discuss them in the earlier section that describes the pros and cons of the policy options. This section should be dedicated to the mechanics of implementation.
5. Conclusion
• Return to the big picture: What is the goal of your policy recommendation? What will happen if the decision-maker implements the recommendation? What will happen if she/he does not? (Remember voters if the decision-maker is an elected official.) This is your opportunity to remind your reader of the urgency of your recommendation.