Mental Health Policy Paper

Instructions

For this assignment, you will write a paper summarizing a current bill either federal or state that impacts psychiatric mental healthcare and collaborative care for access to treatment.  The paper should contain the following main points as listed below: (Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

1.      Select a House of Representatives or Senate bill (national or state level), either currently in process or one that has been passed within the last two years that directly focuses on or impacts psychiatric mental health care advanced practice nursing, financing, operations, or collaborative care for access. (Include the name of the bill: e.g., H.R. 4909 (115th): Stop School Violence Act of 2018. Be sure to note if the bill is federal or state-level legislation and indicate the state, if appropriate. Also note if the bill was passed and the date, if in committee [house or senate], or if awaiting the president’s signature).  (Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

2.      Discuss your encouragement or opposition of the Bill based on ethical, legal, and policy considerations, and the nursing view and perspective for patient care.  (Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

3.      Discuss how the bill impacts or will impact, the role of the PMHNP. Discuss the impact on health care quality and outcomes for psychiatric mental healthcare. 

4.      Discuss how the policy negatively or positively contributes to collaborative care for psychiatric mental healthcare and increased access to care for psychiatric mental health diagnoses. (Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

This paper must be written in current APA format, be 4-6 pages (excluding the title page and reference page), and have at least 3 scholarly, peer-reviewed references in addition to the course textbooks. (Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

Rubric

NU673 Unit 12 Assignment – Mental Health Policy Paper Rubric

NU673 Unit 12 Assignment – Mental Health Policy Paper Rubric

Criteria

Ratings

Pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeContent of Paper

12 pts

Level 5

Demonstrates a well-articulated understanding of the subject matter in a clear, complex, and informative manner. Develops content and theories are well. Links content to the paper requirements and practical experience. Includes relevant material that fulfills all objectives of the paper. Uses scholarly resources that were not provided in the course materials. Completes all instruction requirements.(Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

10 pts

Level 3

Demonstrates an understanding of the subject matter. Explains and applies knowledge of evidence-based practice, ethics, theory, and/or role. Uses a variety of scholarly resources from the course material and some that were not provided in the course materials. Includes relevant material that fulfills all objectives of the paper. Completes all instruction requirements.

5 pts

Level 1

Demonstrates a moderate understanding of the subject matter. Summarizes content with minimal application to evidence-based practice, theory, or role-development. Presents content but is missing depth and or development. Uses only scholarly resources that were provided in the course materials Completes most instruction requirements.(Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

0 pts

Level 0

Does not meet the Section

12 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAnalysis and Synthesis of Paper Content and Meaning

12 pts

Level 5

Provides critical analysis in an accurate, clear, concise, and complete presentation of the required content. Synthesizes information from scholarly resources. Provides new information or insight related to the context of the assignment with both supportive and alternative information or viewpoints. Completes all instruction requirements.(Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

8 pts

Level 3

Provides evidence of further synthesis of course content via scholarly resources. Synthesizes information to help fulfill paper requirements. Supports content with at least one viewpoint. Completes all instruction requirements.(Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

5 pts

Level 1

Lacks clarification or new information. Supports content with scholarly reference without adding any new information or insight. Provides content that may be confusing or unclear, and the summary may be incomplete. Completes most instruction requirements.(Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

0 pts

Level 0

Does not meet the Section

12 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeApplication of Knowledge

12 pts

Level 5

Offers a multidisciplinary approach via scholarly resources. Applies practice that is accurate and plausible. Supports practice with additional scholarly resources. Answers all questions posed within the assignment in a well-developed manner with citations for validation. Completes all instruction requirements.(Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

8 pts

Level 3

Presents a summary of the paper’s content, findings, and knowledge gained. Indicates how the information will be used within their professional practice. Completes all instruction requirements.(Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

5 pts

Level 1

Lacks objective Section. Applies superficial bridge between the assignment and the broader course content. Indicates how they will apply this new knowledge to their clinical practice in a vague manner. Completes most instruction requirements.(Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

0 pts

Level 0

Does not meet the Section

12 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeOrganization

12 pts

Level 5

Provides well-organized content with a clear and complex purpose statement and content argument. Provides concise writing with a logical flow of ideas.

8 pts

Level 3

Provides organized content with an informative purpose statement and supportive content and summary statement. Provides argument content with minimal issues in content flow.(Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

5 pts

Level 1

Provides poor organization, and flow of ideas distract from content. Provides a purpose statement. Provides narrative that is difficult to follow and frequently causes reader to reread work.(Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

0 pts

Level 0

Does not meet the Section

12 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeCollege-level academic writing

12 pts

Level 5

Includes no more than three grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors that do not interfere with the readability. Meets the assignment length requirements.

8 pts

Level 3

Includes no more than four grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors that do not interfere with the readability. Meets the length requirements.

4 pts

Level 1

Includes five or more grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors makes understanding parts of assignment difficult, but does not interfere with readability. Meets the length requirements.

0 pts

Level 0

Does not meet the Section

12 pts

Total Points: 60

Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students

A mental health policy is a crucial federal/health authority statement that guides certain issues affecting mental health sectors by defining its critical aspects and model for action. As such, mental health policies define future visions to guide the establishment of frameworks for preventing, treating and rehabilitating mental in the community. Typically, policy changes result in improved treatments, access to services and better health outcomes for mental health patients. This paper summarizes a recent federal bill that will impact psychiatric mental healthcare, collaborative care, and access to treatment. (Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

H.R.2611 (117th) – Increasing Behavioral Health Treatment Act of 2021

The Increasing Behavioral Health Treatment Act of 2021 is federal-level legislation. Rep. Grace F. Napolitano, a representative for California, District 32, sponsored the Bill on 16 April 2021 to the House of Representatives. After that, the House of Representatives referred the Bill to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for action on 16 April 2021. House Committee on Energy and Commerce referred the Bill to the Subcommittee on Health. The Bill has not been passed and is currently with the Subcommittee on Health for deliberations.(Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

The Bill was introduced to repeal the restrictions that generally outlaw federal payment under Medicaid for services offered by the institutions of mental diseases (IMD) for patients below 65 years (The Congres.gov, 2021). Currently, States may only receive such payments through Medicaid demonstration waiver. Moreover, the Bill would require state Medicaid programs covering IMD services to improve access to outpatient and community-based behavioral health care, expand crisis stabilization services, facilitate coordination between providers, and report specified information relating to IMD utilization and costs.

Encouragement of the Bill

The Bill presents future accessibility to mental healthcare services and Medicaid coverage for individuals aged below 65 years. Mental health illnesses are diverse and dynamic, affecting the young and elderly alike. The Bill supports the maintenance of the primacy of patients’ needs, i.e., access and affordability of healthcare services, in the face of external pressures in changing social, economic and political climates (Carlson, Sweetland & Wainberg, 2018). In this regard, expanding the Medicaid coverage for individuals in mental health institutions aged below 65 years is a significant federal step in caring for its citizens. Considering the rising living costs, it is only ethical to allow payment under Medicaid for IMD services for patients under 65 years. (Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

Legally, the Bill will play a crucial role in mandating IMD to attend to patients under Medicaid. Like other healthcare conditions, mental health illnesses require financial aid and comprehensive healthcare system support. For these reasons, the Increasing Behavioral Health Treatment Act of 2021 seeks to establish a crucial and future-centric mental healthcare support framework for the benefits of healthcare institutions, affected patients and their families. In this case, most mental health institutions will benefit from this coverage by receiving funding from Medicaid to allow seamless operations.

Furthermore, most American citizens cannot afford private health insurance coverage (Sainato, 2020), and only Medicaid provides affordable health insurance for most Americans. Therefore, mandating IMD to serve patients with mental illnesses will be a bold step towards healthcare accessibility and universality. Policy-wise, the Bill will allow state policies to ensure that the individuals receiving care in psychiatric hospitals and residential centers are consistently screened for physical health co-morbidities and substance use disorders before or upon admission. This will be crucial in ascertaining the IMDs capacity to address mental and physical health during admission and aid provision additional on-site or external healthcare services, referrals and care coordination.(Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

The current Social Security Act excluded individuals receiving mental health services in IMD (The Congres.gov, 2021), which I believe is against their right to accessible and quality care. With the current legislation, insurance coverage is limited to mental health patients aged 65 years and above. While mental health nursing institutions will benefit from increased funding, patients will benefit from various services, including basic mental health assessments, diagnosis, and treatment. Besides, the Bill increases the availability of services during a crisis will allow patients with serious mental health illnesses, emotional disturbance, and substance use disorder to get the immediate medical attention they deserve and inappropriate levels of care.

The Bill’s Impact of the Role of PMHNP

Primary PMHNP roles include assessments, diagnosis, and establishing treatment plans for mental health patients (American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), 2019). Equally, most PMHNPs carry out psychological, social, and physical health assessments, treatment evaluation, and emergency psychiatric care services. The Bill has crucial provisions that directly and directly influence these roles.  These provisions are crucial to strengthen data sharing and coordination between healthcare teams, i.e., the physical, mental, and substance abuse teams in community-based behavioral health facilities and mental health hospitals (The Congres.gov, 2021). Data sharing and coordination will allow the PMHNP to assess patients, make definitive diagnoses and treatment plans.(Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

Furthermore, the Bill strengthens the need for IMDs to demonstrate the state’s strategies to identify and engage individuals, including adolescents and young adults, having critical mental health illnesses, emotional breakdown, and substance abuse disorders (The Congres.gov, 2021). Besides, IMDs must demonstrate the State Medicaid agency’s applicable and established utilization policies or Medicaid managed care organizations to ensure individuals receive medical assistance. Together, these requirements and provisions compel and assist PMHNPs and IMDs to provide the right care and associated assistance relevant to their roles in mental health provision.(Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

The Policy Contribution to Collaborative Care

Collaboration is a critical aspect of mental healthcare, considering its complexity and the multidisciplinary medical teams involved. Arguably, a collaborative mental health system is supported by communication of various aspects of mental health evaluation and therapeutic intervention. The Increasing Behavioral Health Treatment Act of 2021 supports collaborative care by compelling the IMDs/states to improve data sharing and coordination between medical teams and increase services’ availability during a crisis.  Improving data sharing and coordination will enhance the coordination between care teams and institutions to ease response to patient issues, aid definitive medical response, and aid referrals and transfer of a patient from one IDM institution to another.(Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

Furthermore, by increasing the availability of services during crises through mobile units and call centers, IMDs would enhance their cooperation with relevant individuals and entities, including law enforcement personnel, first responders, integrated care settings, and observation/assessment centers. This cooperation will increase healthcare personnel’s adherence to patient treatment plans, reduce risks, associated crises, needless inpatient stays, and emergency room visits. As a result, patients will have increased access to mental healthcare services and appropriate diagnosis and treatment interventions.(Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

While there are significant positive impacts from collaborative care for both patients and service providers, there is a potential for the state plan to penalize collaborative work. For instance, most IDMs would instead offer both physical and mental health services rather than referring the patients and outsourcing personnel to handle co-morbid physical health conditions. While such a situation can be rare, it is a possibility. Rugkasa et al. (2020) argue that policies aiming for prosperous and justifiable healthcare collaboration cannot be realized without altering the funding sources. In this regard, additional measures must be undertaken to mitigate against the possible impediment of collaborative care.(Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

Conclusion

In sum, the Increasing Behavioral Health Treatment Act of 2021 is a crucial step towards universal healthcare access and affordability. The Act repeals the Social Security Act’s provisions that limited individuals below 65 years receiving care from IMDs from Medicaid payment services. Together with additional provisions, the Increasing Behavioral Health Treatment Act of 2021 will aid the PMHNP roles and improve the quality of healthcare services received by mental health patients.(Comprehensive Mental Health Policy Paper Example for Nursing Students)

References

Rugkåsa, J., Tveit, O. G., Berteig, J., Hussain, A., & Ruud, T. (2020). Collaborative care for mental health: a qualitative study of the experiences of patients and health professionals. BMC health services research, 20(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05691-8

Carlson, C., Sweetland, A., & Wainberg, M. (2018). Ethical challenges in global mental health clinical trials. The Lancet. Psychiatry, 5(11), 866. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2FS2215-0366(18)30300-6

Mitchell, A.(July 2019). Medicaid’s Institutions for Mental Disease (IMD) Exclusion. Retrieved 26 October 2021, from https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/IF10222.pdf 

American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (December 2019). Are You Considering a Career as Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner? Retrieved 26 October 2021, from https://www.aanp.org/news-feed/are-you-considering-a-career-as-psychiatric-mental-health-nurse-practitioner

Sainato, M. (January 2020). The Americans are dying because they can’t afford medical care. Retrieved 26 October 2021, from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/07/americans-healthcare-medical-costs

The Congres.gov. (April 2021). 117th CONGRESS 1st Session: H. R. 2611. Retrieved 26 October 2021, from https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr2611/BILLS-117hr2611ih.xml