Bill Overview
Title: More Behavioral Health Providers Act
Description: This bill provides for additional Medicare payments to health care practitioners who provide services in mental health professional shortage areas for individual with mental health or substance use disorders. The bill applies to physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors.
Sponsors: Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals with mental health or substance use disorders in shortage areas
Estimated Size: 158000000
- The bill targets mental health professional shortage areas for individual with mental health or substance use disorders.
- These shortage areas may include rural or underserved urban communities where access to mental health professionals is limited.
- Individuals with mental health or substance use disorders in these areas are likely to benefit from increased access to care.
- Healthcare practitioners providing mental health services will receive additional Medicare payments, incentivizing them to work in these areas.
- Globally, similar issues of shortages may exist, but this legislation specifically targets conditions within the United States.
- In the U.S, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, millions live in mental health care shortage areas.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects those within mental health professional shortage areas, meaning those individuals will more likely see changes in access to care.
- The policy will have most impact in areas currently underserved by mental health professionals.
- People not living in underserved areas may see little to no impact.
- We expect a longer-term increase in wellbeing for those who benefit from increased access to mental health care.
Simulated Interviews
Teacher (rural Tennessee)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I often struggle to find a counselor nearby and have to travel far for appointments.
- This policy might bring more mental health professionals to our area.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Factory Worker (inner-city Detroit)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've waited months just to get an appointment with a counselor.
- More providers would be a blessing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Retired (suburban Oregon)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm okay with my current access to mental health services.
- This policy likely won't affect me personally.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Farmer (rural New Mexico)
Age: 50 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I rarely find a professional who understands my conditions.
- If more providers come here, it could significantly improve my quality of life.
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 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
IT Specialist (suburban New Jersey)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm satisfied with the availability of mental health services in my area.
- I don't expect the policy to directly impact me.
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 |
Retail Worker (urban California)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's hard to find a therapist that takes my insurance and isn't booked out for months.
- I hope this policy will help reduce the waiting times.
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 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Mechanic (rural Mississippi)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I can rarely see specialists here, and travel is costly and time-consuming.
- The policy could make reaching professionals easier.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
College Student (Annapolis, Maryland)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have no issues accessing mental health care here.
- The policy might be more beneficial elsewhere.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Construction Worker (rural South Dakota)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy can bring more counselors closer to home.
- Support is hard to come by in these parts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Caregiver (rural Maine)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's tough finding specialists nearby, which adds to my stress.
- Policy could help more providers come to us, improving our situation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000000 (Low: $4500000000, High: $5500000000)
Year 2: $5200000000 (Low: $4700000000, High: $5700000000)
Year 3: $5350000000 (Low: $4800000000, High: $5900000000)
Year 5: $5550000000 (Low: $5000000000, High: $6100000000)
Year 10: $5800000000 (Low: $5200000000, High: $6400000000)
Year 100: $6000000000 (Low: $5400000000, High: $6600000000)
Key Considerations
- The target population includes individuals in underserved communities, many of whom currently receive limited mental health services.
- Effective implementation requires close collaboration with local health departments and consistent monitoring of provider distribution and patient outcomes.
- Potential future legislative changes could alter the financial landscape for Medicare, impacting projected costs and savings.