Bill Overview
Title: Mental Health Reform Reauthorization Act of 2022
Description: This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 various activities related to mental health services and resources. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes a policy laboratory housed within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that promotes evidence-based practices and service delivery models. Additionally, the bill reauthorizes and modifies grants and similar assistance for treatment and other services for adults with serious mental illnesses and children with serious emotional disturbances, mental and behavioral health programs in the criminal justice system, priority mental health needs of regional and national significance, education and training for mental and behavioral health care providers, and integrated primary care and behavioral health care. The bill also addresses insurance coverage for mental and behavioral health. This includes (1) grants for assessing health insurance plans for compliance with requirements related to parity in the coverage of mental health, (2) applying the parity requirements to self-funded, nonfederal government health plans, and (3) requiring specified agencies to provide states with guidance about coverage recommendations for mental and behavioral health services. Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must review claims data to assess the degree to which mental and behavioral health treatment aligns with evidence-based recommendations and standards of care. Other matters addressed by the bill include first episode psychosis activities (interventions to improve symptoms, reduce relapse episodes, and prevent deterioration and disability among individuals suffering from psychotic illness) and improving data collection and reporting of SAMHSA's activities.
Sponsors: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals worldwide experiencing mental health issues
Estimated Size: 65000000
- The bill reauthorizes SAMHSA-backed services, which are designed to impact all Americans with mental health needs, especially those with serious conditions.
- It has provisions impacting the mental health support system within the criminal justice system in the US.
- It focuses on integrating mental health services within primary healthcare, which impacts all individuals using healthcare services.
- The bill includes sections on mental health insurance parity and compliance, which affects those with insurance coverage.
- Global estimates are lower because various specifics of the bill, such as insurance compliance and service grants, are US-centric.
Reasoning
- The policy targets a wide range of mental health aspects which are significant to a large population, but prioritization may be needed due to budget constraints over time.
- The estimated target population is 65 million Americans. This includes those with mental health needs, within the justice system, primary care settings, and those impacted by insurance changes.
- Given the budget limitation of $950 million in the first year, the policy may prioritize mental health services integration into primary care, education of providers, and initial insurance coverage evaluations.
- The impact is expected to be high on those directly using mental health services or affected by insurance changes, but the long-term reach will depend on sustained funding and effective implementations.
Simulated Interviews
Therapist (New York, NY)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy seems well-intentioned and will push for better evidence-based practices, which is always needed.
- As a therapist, focusing on mental health parity and funding for providers' education reassures me that care quality might improve.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad to see there’s more attention to insurance parity.
- With mental health services being inadequately covered by insurance policies, this reform could balance that.
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 |
Graduate Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's promising to see mental health being prioritized. I hope it increases research opportunities.
- Policies encouraging evidence-based practices are crucial for academia and the public.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired (Miami, FL)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Integrated healthcare is incredibly helpful for older adults like me.
- I'm hopeful about improved insurance coverage for mental health treatments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Public School Teacher (Dallas, TX)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I work directly with students with mental health challenges, so more support from policies helps us prepare better as educators.
- The policy seems to focus on direct impact populations, which is crucial for both teaching and personal life concerns.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Police Officer (Detroit, MI)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Mental health in the criminal justice system is a major issue, and improvements could reduce recidivism.
- Always positive to see new measures for care access and outreach.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Mental Health Advocate (Seattle, WA)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Funding is crucial and it is reassuring to see prioritization of mental health in policy reforms.
- I particularly hope advocates see direct effects in bill execution over time.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Financial Analyst (Boston, MA)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While not directly impacting me, it's reassuring that mental health initiatives promise improvement for society.
- Financial side of mental health coverage might be less burdensome if insurance reforms proceed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Nurse (Denver, CO)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Integrated care is a model we follow, and more support is valuable.
- Insurance compliance improvements could be significant to service delivery.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
College Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill could make accessing and maintaining mental health treatment better for students and young people.
- More resources toward mental health services resonate with concerns in the younger population.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $950000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1100000000)
Year 2: $950000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1100000000)
Year 3: $950000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1100000000)
Year 5: $950000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1100000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Implementation efficiency and coordination among federal, state, and local agencies will be critical to maximize outcomes.
- Insurance parity enforcement may require additional regulatory support and cooperation with private insurers.
- Training and support for mental health professionals must scale up to meet increased service demands.