The Importance of Understanding Mental Health Policies: Federal Level
How are therapists, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals reimbursed or funded? What kind of regulations are enforced to ensure that mental health professionals are practicing legally? These questions are important to ask and for your provider(s) to be transparent about when you seek professional help. The answers to these questions are typically written in nationwide policies, which can differ depending on the state that you live in across the United States.
On the federal level, major pieces of legislation that have passed for mental health issues include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) and the Affordable Care Act (Mental Health America). These standards and regulations are enforced in order to protect the rights of individuals dealing with mental health disorders. For example, the purpose of enforcing MHPAEA is to ensure that public sector group health plans do not impose benefits that may be deemed unfavorable for people with mental health issues compared to medical/surgical benefits. More up-to-date information of the act can be found at: https://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Programs-and-Initiatives/Other-Insurance-Protections/mhpaea_factsheet.
It is important to be aware of policies imposed on individuals experiencing mental health issues largely because these policies affect the way that patients gain access and receive treatment for mental health disorders. Policy changes on the federal level can impact the U.S population for better or worse in terms of treatment options, patient accessibility, and outcome. With more knowledge about these nationwide policies, we can facilitate a stronger understanding of the types of resources that are currently out there for individuals experiencing mental health issues and seek better ways to improve the mental health care system for all.
References
https://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Programs-and-Initiatives/Other-Insurance-Protections/mhpaea_factsheet
https://www.mhanational.org/issues/federal-and-state-role-mental-health