Response Policy
jaydenson
responsepolicytracyandissa.docx
TS
Dec 24 5:35am
Reply from Tracy Sinopoli
Main Discussion Post
In this week’s discussion post I have selected individuals who need access to mental health care and the use of Mobile Health Centers (MCH’s). MHCs are an alternative, innovative and cost-effective approach to delivering care to hard-to-reach communities and create a bridge to access care. MHCs create an environment that is easily accessible, familiar, and culturally competent residing within the community (O’Neill et al., 2025).
Federal Policy Advocacy and Mobile Health Centers
Collins and Rosens (2022) have stated the Mobile Health Care Act is an important piece of legislation and advocacy that is designed to support and fund the use of Mobile Health Centers. Strengths noted with this advocacy are flexibility, access to care, broad support for the increase demand for MHCs. A weakness noted is the dependence of federal support and sustainable healthcare worker staffing to meet the needs of the communities.
Recommendations to improve this policy would be to strengthen and secure funding and possibly apply an incentive for healthcare providers to work in the MCHs. As nurses we can participate in advocacy events sponsored by professional societies, talk with your organization’s government relations department and engage local government representatives that have an interest in their community. As healthcare providers we are poised to narrate the care needs and advocate for those who may not be able to do this on their own.
References
Fallon,Mary Kathryn, M.S.A.,C.P.A. (2024). Mobile Clinics: Driving Toward Health Equity. Health Progress, 105(4), 16-21. https://www.proquest.com/trade-journals/mobile-clinics-driving-toward-health-equity/docview/3131896785/se-2
O’Neill, M., Redelmeier, R. J., Michalski, C., Macaraeg, R., Gans, M., Schoffel, A., Diemert, L. M., Ogbaselassie, L., Rosella, L. C., & Boozary, A. (2025). Implementation and evaluation of a novel community-based urban mobile health clinic in toronto, Ontario. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 116(3), 484–492. https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-024-00962Links to an external site.
United States : Collins, Rosens MOBILE Health Care Act Heads to Presidents Desk. (2022, Oct 07). MENA Report https://www.proquest.com/wire-feeds/united-states-collins-rosens-mobile-health-care/docview/2722627087/se-2
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IK
Dec 23 5:09pm
Reply from Isa Junior Khalid
Federal Policy Advocacy to Improve Mental Health Access for Vulnerable Populations Low-income people, people living in rural communities, and Medicaid enrollees are the populations with vulnerable access to mental health care. The two central characteristics of federal mental health policy in recent years have been the increase in funding for mental health services and the enforcement of parity and behavioral health integration. The primary policies that fall under these characteristics are the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), which was recently strengthened by the addition of new federal enforcement and funding. The MHPAEA addresses the key advocacy priority for mental health because it focuses on equal coverage of physical and mental needs, which effectively reduces mental health disparities. The policies that were successfully passed in the federal level increased the enforcement of MHPAEA and the expansion of community-based mental health services through Consolidated Appropriations Acts and funding for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) were continued. These policies address the needs of vulnerable populations by mandating insurance companies to cover mental health services in a way equal to the coverage of physical health and by increasing the number of settings where an individual can seek mental health treatment. The SAMHSA (2023) and Porche (2023) data indicate that the two policies successfully improved access to care, continuity of care, and capacity for crisis response for the populations who were under served previously. The most significant strength of the current federal mental health policy is the focus on accountability and access to care. The growth in reporting and federal monitoring of insurance companies has led to higher parity law compliance (SAMHSA, 2023). The CCBHCs have also improved access to mental health services by providing integrated, culturally sensitive care regardless of the patient’s ability to pay (SAMHSA, 2023). There are also some weaknesses of the policy, which include the workforce shortage, a lack of universal state participation, and low reimbursement rates. These issues have resulted in access barriers and a lack of policy implementation in rural communities and other high-need communities for behavioral health support (Porche, 2023). Dawes (2020) argues that the main causes of unequal access to mental health are political determinants of health, including fragmented governance, lack of state autonomy, inconsistent prioritization, and the unintended consequences of well-intended policies. Potential improvements to federal mental health policy include long-term federal funding for mental health workforce development, consistent parity enforcement requirements across all states, and greater support for nurse-led behavioral health teams. DNP-prepared nurses can support the current policy changes through evidence-informed advocacy, including advocacy through engagement with policymakers and patients as well as the dissemination of evidence to improve clinical practice (APHN, 2021). In conclusion, the current strengthened federal mental health policy aligns well with the advocacy priorities for vulnerable populations because it offers an equitable, comprehensive, and integrated approach to mental health. There is a need for more legislative efforts to address the existing gaps, and advanced nursing can help close them.
References
Association of Public Health Nurses Public Health Policy Committee. (2021). Public health policy advocacy guidebook and tool kit. https://www.phnurse.orgLinks to an external site.
Dawes, D. E. (2020). The political determinants of health. Johns Hopkins University Press.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). Certified community behavioral health clinics impact report. https://www.samhsa.govLinks to an external site.
