There are a number of stakeholders in healthcare, many of whom are actively involved in policymaking activities. A common compliance-related concern involves a conflict of interest between a stakeholder and the organization. A conflict of interest often involves the inability of a stakeholder to perform their duties appropriately because it could possibly betray their interests to the organization. For instance, interest groups may attempt to influence public policy in their favor, often by lobbying members of the government. In this case, the influence of interest groups on policymaking is not necessarily an illegal activity; rather, it is viewed more as a significant part of the decision-making process.

Based on what you learned this week, address the following requirements:

• Discuss two examples of conflicts of interest in policymaking.
• What might influence stakeholders to engage in policymaking activities that could pose a conflict of interest?