Bill Overview
Title: Training Psychiatrists for the Future Act
Description: This bill provides for additional psychiatry residency positions for purposes of graduate medical education payments under Medicare.
Sponsors: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals needing mental health services
Estimated Size: 50000000
- The bill aims to increase the number of psychiatry residency positions, which will directly impact the field of psychiatry by increasing the number of trained psychiatrists.
- Currently, there are global shortages in mental health professionals, including psychiatrists who play a crucial role in mental health care.
- A higher number of psychiatrists can improve mental health services around the world, potentially benefiting millions of people who suffer from mental health disorders.
- The bill is specific to the United States (under Medicare), but newly trained psychiatrists can practice in diverse locations globally after their training.
Reasoning
- To simulate interviews of a population impacted by the policy, consider diverse individuals with varying degrees of mental health needs and backgrounds.
- The policy impacts will be more significant for those within healthcare systems reliant on Medicare, as the residency positions are tied to it.
- Consider geographical and socioeconomic diversity, as mental health access varies greatly across the U.S. due to these factors.
- The policy primarily impacts urban areas with educational medical institutions that receive funding for the new residency positions.
- There will be a time lag in effects due to the training duration required before new psychiatrists enter the workforce.
- The impact on wellbeing will also vary temporally; short-term effects might be minimal, but long-term effects should represent substantial improvements.
Simulated Interviews
Psychiatric Nurse (New York City, NY)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a much-needed change. We desperately need more psychiatrists in high-demand areas like ours.
- I hope the training improves patient care quality.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Mental Health Advocate (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Training more psychiatrists is essential, but we need to address mental health stigma too.
- This is a positive step, though.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Grad Student (Portland, OR)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is great for someone like me considering a career in psychiatry.
- It opens up more opportunities for future psychiatrists.
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 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Psychiatrist (Dallas, TX)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While more psychiatrists could improve access, I worry about oversaturation in urban areas.
- Residencies should focus also on rural placements.
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 | 7 |
Retired Teacher (Chicago, IL)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having more psychiatrists covered by Medicare is reassuring.
- It means improved access if my current psychiatrist retires.
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 |
Farmer (Rural Kansas)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We seldom see mental healthcare workers out here, so more psychiatrists would be helpful.
- If they focus on rural areas, it could make a real difference.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Software Engineer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's nice to know there might be more mental health professionals.
- I hope wait times decrease with this bill.
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 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Medical School Faculty (Boston, MA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a pivotal policy for growing the next generation of psychiatrists.
- I'm excited to see the impacts on medical education.
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 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Telemedicine Consultant (Miami, FL)
Age: 43 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With more psychiatrists trained, telemedicine for mental health could greatly expand.
- The policy supports my field of work effectively.
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 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Single Parent (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More psychiatrists could reduce my wait times significantly.
- I've struggled to find consistent care.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $200000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $250000000)
Year 2: $200000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $250000000)
Year 3: $210000000 (Low: $160000000, High: $260000000)
Year 5: $220000000 (Low: $170000000, High: $270000000)
Year 10: $230000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $280000000)
Year 100: $240000000 (Low: $190000000, High: $290000000)
Key Considerations
- Costs reflect significant investment in training and facility expansion.
- Long-term savings are anticipated but challenging to quantify precisely.
- Tax revenue increases mirror expected growth in the psychiatrist workforce and improved mental health outcomes.