Bill Overview
Title: Behavioral Health Integration Awareness Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to (1) conduct outreach to providers on the availability of certain behavioral health integration services under Medicare, and (2) report on the utilization of such services.
Sponsors: Rep. Smith, Jason [R-MO-8]
Target Audience
Population: People who access Medicare behavioral health integration services
Estimated Size: 63000000
- The bill focuses on behavioral health integration services, which are relevant to individuals accessing mental health care.
- It involves the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, so it targets populations using these healthcare services.
- Medicare is a national health insurance program in the US, primarily for people aged 65 or older, but also for some younger people with disabilities.
- The bill's impact will be more significant in the US since it involves Medicare, a US program.
Reasoning
- The Behavioral Health Integration Awareness Act aims to improve access to mental health services by educating healthcare providers about these services within Medicare.
- Since the policy is implemented through Medicare, it will mainly affect older adults and people with certain disabilities since they constitute the bulk of Medicare beneficiaries.
- The policy focuses on awareness and engagement, which may mean immediate change can be subtle but has the potential for significant long-term benefits.
- Cultural, geographical, and occupational diversity influence how people perceive and report wellbeing after policy changes. Including diverse perspectives is crucial.
- The budget constraints mean the policy's impact may start small but is expected to scale up over time, particularly benefiting individuals with frequent interactions with healthcare systems.
- I will simulate a variety of experiences, including those who are directly affected, those who see indirect benefits, and some for whom the policy has no impact at all.
- We will include people whose wellbeing might not change significantly, as well as those reporting major improvements due to increased availability or awareness of services.
Simulated Interviews
Retired teacher (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 72 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's wonderful that there's more focus on mental health for people my age.
- I hope more doctors will get involved and understand our needs better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired engineer (Houston, TX)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The information campaign might help me access better therapy and help.
- I do worry about how quickly these benefits will kick in.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Freelancer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Bringing more resources to mental healthcare is essential.
- Hopefully, it leads to more personalized care plans.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cafe owner (Miami, FL)
Age: 68 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been pretty healthy, so this isn't a massive change for me.
- It’s good that the option is available when needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Unemployed (Detroit, MI)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 2
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hoping more awareness will bring better services and support.
- The wait time for mental health care needs to improve drastically.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Retired plumber (Dallas, TX)
Age: 70 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I haven't needed mental healthcare, but it's reassuring to know it's there if I do.
- The push for awareness might help others in my circle.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Nurse (New York, NY)
Age: 58 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More training for providers is essential so they make referrals easily.
- This could significantly help with stress and burnout.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired librarian (Chicago, IL)
Age: 64 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's crucial more service providers know about available mental health services.
- I'd like to see faster integration into existing healthcare practices.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired mechanic (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 66 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Expanding behavioral health awareness is a positive move.
- I hope that specialists will become more accessible.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired professor (Seattle, WA)
Age: 80 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad to see an emphasis on behavioral health.
- However, my routine hasn't really changed much.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 2: $14000000 (Low: $9000000, High: $19000000)
Year 3: $14000000 (Low: $9000000, High: $19000000)
Year 5: $14000000 (Low: $9000000, High: $19000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The coverage of Medicare to a vast population provides a good reach for the awareness programs.
- The bill leverages existing structures within CMS, which might reduce additional costs.
- Outreach effectiveness will depend on healthcare providers' engagement with the programs.