Economics

Jannelle D. Jamison

HCM 320 Milestone One

Public Health Issue Topic: Identify the public health issue you will use as a basis for your final project presentation. Briefly describe why you choose this topic.

My chosen public health concern is the provision of mental health care in rural locations. I chose this topic because I struggle with mental health difficulties, and without the assistance I received, I would be in a much different position in my life. Mental health is equally as critical as physical health, if not more.

Economic Forces: Briefly describe some economic forces related to your public health issue.

Macroeconomic Forces: Unemployment rates in rural regions can have an impact on people's capacity to obtain mental health care, which can lead to deterioration in mental health. In addition, there aren't enough places where people can obtain assistance.

Microeconomic Forces: The employment that the rural population has may restrict their availability to seek mental health treatment at a time that is convenient for them. People in these communities still have a negative perception about getting mental health treatment.

Key Regulation Policy: Determine economic policies or regulations that currently apply to your public health issue.

To my knowledge, the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy is responsible for developing policies to assist rural areas dealing with healthcare concerns. The Affordable Care Act is also relevant to my situation.

Benefits and Consequences: Identify the perceived benefits and consequences resulting from the legislation supporting your public health issue.

Benefits: Insurers are required to give the same amount of coverage for any mental health issue as they do for physical health concerns, regardless of the severity of the condition.

Consequences: getting providers to move to rural areas.

Impact of Regulation or Policy: Describe the economic impact resulting from the legislation supporting your public health issue. In order for more mental healthcare practitioners to be available in remote regions ready to see these persons, a significant amount of additional funding must be invested in the policy. The greater the amount of money required, the greater the likelihood that taxes will be raised in the states that require it the most.

References: Provide links or citations for three scholarly resources that you will use to support your ideas regarding your public health issue.

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2408399/

2. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/mental-health

3. https://sophia.stkate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1402&context=msw_papers