Bill Overview
Title: Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act of 2022
Description: This bill establishes within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) two demonstration programs to increase access to mental health services provided in languages other than English at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). In carrying out the programs, HHS must give preference to FQHCs at which at least 20% of the patients are best served in a language other than English. First, HHS must provide National Health Service Corps (NHSC) loan repayments to mental health care providers who agree to serve their period of obligated service in an FQHC. Additionally, HHS must provide enhanced payments to those who serve in an FQHC with non-English language needs. (The NHSC is a scholarship and student loan repayment program for eligible health care providers who agree to work in areas with a shortage of primary care, dental care, and mental health care providers.) Second, HHS must award grants to FQHCs for recruiting and retaining mental health care providers who are fluent in a language other than English.
Sponsors: Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
Target Audience
Population: People who speak languages other than English in need of mental health services
Estimated Size: 73000000
- Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) serve diverse and often underserved communities, providing access to care on a sliding fee scale.
- A significant portion of the population in the US, approximately 22% speak a language other than English at home.
- The bill targets mental health providers who speak non-English languages to service these patients, thus impacting the mental health needs of this population.
- It specifically targets FQHCs with at least 20% of patients best served in a language other than English.
- The program aims to recruit and retain mental health professionals who can effectively communicate with these patients, enhancing their access to services.
Reasoning
- The policy focuses on improving mental health services for non-English speakers, a significant part of the US population.
- Budget constraints limit the reach, prioritizing major urban areas and FQHCs already serving diverse communities.
- Impact duration and extent can vary greatly based on individual circumstances and location of FQHCs.
- Some segments of the population might remain unaffected if they live in areas not targeted by expanded services.
Simulated Interviews
Mental Health Counselor (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a step in the right direction. Many of my patients struggle because there are not enough resources in their language.
- I would appreciate enhanced payments as an incentive to serve in these communities.
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 | 8 | 5 |
Medical School Graduate (Houston, TX)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The loan repayment option is enticing, but it's critical the FQHCs genuinely need my language skills.
- I hope this initiative raises awareness about the mental health disparity among non-English speakers.
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 | 7 | 4 |
Clinical Social Worker (Miami, FL)
Age: 44 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More Haitian Creole-speaking providers are essential to meet the demand.
- I hope resources are allocated fairly and not just to states with larger populations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
FQHC Administrator (Chicago, IL)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Funding will help us retain staff who speak the languages our patients use, which is crucial for effective care.
- It could transform our center if implemented wisely.
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 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
College Student (New York, NY)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might influence my decision to work in underserved communities after graduation.
- Excited to see systemic changes targeting language barriers in mental health.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen firsthand how language barriers can impact mental health care. This policy could provide much-needed improvements.
- It might also encourage more people to volunteer or enter the mental health care field.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Psychiatrist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If executed well, these programs might solve part of the provider shortage issue for non-English speakers.
- It's promising to see initiatives focusing on underserved populations.
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 | 8 | 5 |
Mental Health Advocate (Dallas, TX)
Age: 31 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill might not cover all minority groups adequately, but it's a good start for non-English speakers.
- Hoping it drives further legislative change inclusive of other minority issues.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Graduate Student in Public Health (Miami, FL)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hoping this policy provides data that could be useful in my research.
- Accessibility is key, and this act is a step towards bridging gaps for Spanish speakers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Community Health Worker (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 49 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The local Vietnamese community really needs more mental health resources; this could alleviate some pressure.
- Retaining professionals who speak the language could drastically improve service quality here.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $110000000 (Low: $90000000, High: $130000000)
Year 2: $112000000 (Low: $92000000, High: $134000000)
Year 3: $115000000 (Low: $94000000, High: $136000000)
Year 5: $120000000 (Low: $97000000, High: $140000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Recruitment of bilingual mental health professionals may require additional incentive structures to be effective.
- The effectiveness of the program depends on reaching the targeted FQHCs quickly with adequate resources.
- Long-term impact depends on continued funding and scalability of the demonstration programs established by this bill.