Bill Overview
Title: Solutions Not Stigmas Act of 2022
Description: This bill permits the Health Resources and Services Administration to establish a grant program for health professional schools or training programs to develop curricula in substance use disorder treatment or chronic pain education. Among other issues, the curricula must address (1) the reduction of stigma and bias associated with substance use and chronic pain, (2) prevention and early intervention for unhealthy substance use, and (3) best practices for prescribing addictive substances.
Sponsors: Rep. Kim, Andy [D-NJ-3]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals impacted by improved curricula on substance use disorder and chronic pain education
Estimated Size: 80000000
- The bill aims to impact health professional schools or training programs which will subsequently affect healthcare providers and their treatment practices.
- The reduction of stigma and bias associated with substance use and chronic pain will impact those suffering from these conditions.
- Improving curricula in substance use disorder and chronic pain education will likely lead to better treatment outcomes for patients, potentially affecting millions globally.
- Since chronic pain and substance use disorder are prevalent worldwide, large single-digit to low double-digit percentages of the global population are potentially impacted.
- Changes in prescribing practices and early intervention may reduce addiction rates, benefiting those at risk or currently struggling with addiction. The WHO estimates globally about 240 million people struggle with drug dependence, a significant portion of whom could be affected.
Reasoning
- The Solutions Not Stigmas Act of 2022 targets health professional schools which affect healthcare providers' practices and, by extension, their patients. Therefore, the simulations need to cover individuals directly and indirectly impacted, both from the healthcare and patient side.
- Given that the policy targets reducing stigma around substance use disorder and chronic pain, individuals with these conditions represent a large target group for the policy's potential benefits.
- Healthcare professionals who receive new training will possibly have improved job satisfaction and patient outcomes, and this will be reflected in their wellbeing scores.
- Implementing the policy will not immediately affect everyone, as the training needs time to take effect. Some groups will take longer to experience any potential benefits.
- Not everyone in the country will be affected, so it's important to include individuals who remain unaffected by the policy to maintain a balanced view.
- Budget limitations imply that not all training institutions and professionals will benefit immediately. Training implementation might start in specific regions or schools over others.
Simulated Interviews
Anesthesiologist (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see a lot of patients with chronic pain who are hesitant to even discuss their issues due to stigma.
- Better training would help us address patient concerns more sensitively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Primary Care Physician (Chicago, IL)
Age: 57 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Continued stigma around chronic pain complicates my ability to provide effective treatment techniques.
- This policy could really help improve my practice by reducing stigma and increasing effectiveness of prescribed treatments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Substance Use Disorder Counselor (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 38 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Stigma reduction is essential for my clients to fully engage in treatment.
- Improved curricula can equip more healthcare professionals to better recognize and treat substance use disorders.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Nurse Practitioner (Austin, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- An early intervention approach could be transformative.
- The curriculum changes are likely to make my job more fulfilling.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Pharmacist (Columbus, OH)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Stigma around addictive substances makes it difficult to counsel patients on their use.
- It'll help if foods become more educated on misuse and dependency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Retired (Tampa, FL)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Several doctors didn't take my pain seriously in the past.
- A better-informed healthcare profession could change that, hopefully making my experience better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Medical Student (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've already seen how stigma in medical settings impacts patient care.
- This bill could be a game-changer for my education and future practice.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
General Practitioner (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The patients' reluctance to discuss substance use is a barrier.
- Training aligned with realistic issues will benefit patients and make GP visits effective.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Public Health Administrator (Seattle, WA)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Community health struggles with ingrained stigmas around pain and substance use.
- Better-informed curricula could improve community health outcomes.
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 |
Emergency Room Nurse (Boston, MA)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The ER is often where stigma is most visible.
- More training could help all of us approach these situations with better understanding and care.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $53000000 (Low: $45000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $54060000 (Low: $45900000, High: $61200000)
Year 3: $55140000 (Low: $46800000, High: $62400000)
Year 5: $57360000 (Low: $48780000, High: $64900000)
Year 10: $63150000 (Low: $53700000, High: $71550000)
Year 100: $105000000 (Low: $89250000, High: $118650000)
Key Considerations
- The program's success depends on the level of adoption and integration of the new curricula into existing programs.
- Coordination with existing federal and state initiatives is crucial to maximize effectiveness.
- The initiative may require additional legislation to adjust scope, funding, or execution strategies based on initial roll-out results.