Bill Overview
Title: Increasing Mental Health Options Act of 2022
Description: 2022 This bill provides for an additional payment for clinical psychologists under Medicare who provide services in designated health professional shortage areas. It also allows clinical psychologists to provide behavioral health services (in accordance with state law) for purposes of hospitalization services, home health services, and other services under Medicare.
Sponsors: Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-27]
Target Audience
Population: People globally who need improved access to mental health services
Estimated Size: 60000000
- The bill is aimed at improving access to mental health services, mostly for populations who are covered by Medicare.
- Medicare is a US federal health insurance program primarily for individuals who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease.
- The bill specifically targets healthcare service delivery in designated health professional shortage areas, which are areas recognized by the government as lacking adequate healthcare professionals.
- The inclusion of clinical psychologists as providers for hospitalization services, home health services, and other Medicare services significantly benefits Medicare beneficiaries needing mental health care.
- There are an estimated 60 million people enrolled in Medicare.
Reasoning
- The target population includes Medicare beneficiaries, who are primarily older adults, certain younger individuals with disabilities, and those with End-Stage Renal Disease.
- The impact will vary across different regions, particularly benefiting those in health professional shortage areas.
- Budgets constraints require that not all potential users of the policy will be reached immediately, with more significant coverage expected over time.
- Increased access to mental health services should improve wellbeing scores in the affected populations, particularly where shortages have historically limited care.
Simulated Interviews
Retired teacher (Rural West Virginia)
Age: 72 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The new policy sounds like it could really help people like me who live in areas where it's tough to see a psychologist.
- Access to mental health care is very limited, so any extra support is welcome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Retired factory worker (Inner-city Detroit, Michigan)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy may help people where I live get the mental health services they've needed for years.
- It's been hard finding good mental health care around here.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired nurse (Suburban Florida)
Age: 88 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel grateful that I already have access to the health services I need, but this policy seems like it would help those in more remote areas.
- Fortunately, I don't feel the lack of services here.
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 |
Disabled (San Francisco, California)
Age: 55 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With better support, I might be able to handle my mental health issues more effectively.
- I'm more concerned about how accessible these services will really be, especially considering I live in a city with many options already.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired mechanic (Rural Arizona)
Age: 61 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The new policy might finally get me the mental health support I've needed for a long time.
- Access to professional help around here is pretty limited.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired accountant (Suburban Kansas)
Age: 67 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While the changes might be great, they may not necessarily impact my own access as much, since things are already quite good here.
- It could, however, help those I volunteer with who live farther out.
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 | 7 | 7 |
Retired police officer (Urban New York)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Additional mental health resources are crucial for someone like me dealing with PTSD.
- New York has a lot of services, but extra support is always appreciated.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired farmer (Rural Alabama)
Age: 73 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Hopefully this policy means more mental health professionals coming out to the countryside.
- We've needed more help for a long time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired engineer (Urban Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 70 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't think this policy will change much for me personally.
- It seems like it might help others who don't have the access we do in cities.
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 | 7 | 7 |
Retired (Rural South Dakota)
Age: 84 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This may be one of the few chances for us to get some real mental health help around here.
- We've been overlooked for so long, but maybe this will bring some much-needed resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 2: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 3: $510000000 (Low: $410000000, High: $610000000)
Year 5: $520000000 (Low: $420000000, High: $620000000)
Year 10: $570000000 (Low: $470000000, High: $670000000)
Year 100: $1000000000 (Low: $900000000, High: $1100000000)
Key Considerations
- Implementation of this bill relies heavily on the availability and willingness of clinical psychologists to practice in designated shortage areas.
- The success of the program depends on improved mental health outcomes leading to reduced reliance on more expensive healthcare services.
- Federal definitions and designations of 'health professional shortage areas' will evolve, impacting the number of areas eligible under this bill.
- Costs might fluctuate based on changes in Medicare reimbursement rates and healthcare inflation.