Policy issue related to barriers to accessing psychiatric and mental health care

Sample Solution

   

One policy issue related to barriers to accessing psychiatric and mental health care that is currently being addressed by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) is the issue of parity. Parity refers to the equal coverage of mental health and substance use disorders (MHSUDs) with medical and surgical disorders.

Currently, there is a lack of parity in mental health coverage in the United States. This means that people with MHSUDs often have to pay more for their care, have higher deductibles, and have fewer treatment options than people with medical and surgical disorders. This lack of parity can make it difficult for people to access the mental health care they need.

Full Answer Section

    The AANP is working to address the issue of parity by advocating for legislation that would require insurance companies to provide equal coverage for MHSUDs. The AANP is also working to educate the public about the importance of parity and to encourage people to contact their legislators to support parity legislation. NPs can become policy-aware by staying informed about current legislation related to mental health care. They can also join professional organizations that are working to advance mental health policy, such as the AANP. NPs can also act as patient advocates by educating their patients about their rights to mental health care and by helping them to navigate the mental health system. Here are some specific things that NPs can do to become policy-aware and act as patient advocates:

• Stay informed about current legislation related to mental health care. NPs can do this by subscribing to newsletters from professional organizations, following mental health policy experts on social media, and reading news articles about mental health policy.
• Join professional organizations that are working to advance mental health policy. This is a great way to stay informed about current policy issues and to get involved in advocacy efforts.
• Educate your patients about their rights to mental health care. Many people are not aware of their rights to mental health care. NPs can help to educate their patients about these rights by providing them with information about their insurance coverage, the mental health system, and the laws that protect their rights.
• Help your patients to navigate the mental health system. The mental health system can be complex and confusing. NPs can help their patients to navigate the system by providing them with information about different treatment options, by helping them to find providers, and by advocating for them with insurance companies.

By becoming policy-aware and acting as patient advocates, NPs can help to improve access to mental health care for all people.