Healthcare policy, law, regulation, act or standard
Please select a healthcare policy, law, regulation, act or standard
with which you agree, and write a balanced policy analysis of no more than 3 pages , using the 5-step policy analysis framework described below. Your selected policy may be from a private organization such as a healthcare system or an insurance company,
from a government agency, or from another organization such as a voluntary accrediting body
whose policies impact the rest of the healthcare system. Bullet point format is fine.
The policy analysis is on Newborn Identification.
Sample Solution
The policy I have chosen to analyze is the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008. The purpose of the MHPAEA is to ensure that individuals with mental health or substance use disorders receive equal coverage benefits from their insurance companies as those for physical health conditions. This legislation requires insurers, group health plans and employers to provide equal coverage for all medically necessary treatments related to mental illnesses, including prescription drugs and inpatient services (National Alliance on Mental Illness 2021).
The following is a 5-step policy analysis of the MHPAEA:
1. Policy Description – The MHPAEA was passed in 2008 amidst concerns over disparities in insurance coverage between physical and mental health treatments. It seeks to promote access to behavioral healthcare by requiring insurers to cover both categories equally. It also includes protection against discrimination based on pre-existing conditions or past attempts at treatment (National Alliance on Mental Illness 2021).
2. Goals & Objectives – The primary goal of the MHPAEA is to reduce barriers that prevent people from accessing quality healthcare for mental illnesses by ensuring insurance companies provide similar levels of coverage regardless of condition. Other objectives include eliminating discriminatory practices such as higher copays or limitations on care for those seeking treatment for addiction or other mental disorders (Department Of Labor 2019).
3 Assessment – Research has shown that the passage of this law had a significant positive impact on those with behavioral health issues, leading more people seek out help when needed without worrying about potential financial hardship associated with costly treatments (Mills et al 2011). Studies have also found an improved quality of life among patients with substance use disorders who were covered under an insurer’s parity policy compared with one without it (Baird et al 2013). Additionally, there has been an overall reduction in costs due to fewer emergency room visits and hospital stays since more appropriate care can be provided earlier in outpatient settings when necessary (Maccabe et al 2017).
