Please respond to the 2 statements in the Attached document. You can use the references contained in the attachment. Respond by expanding on the posts regarding what social workers can do to ensure
The statements from the colleagues were developed from the following question:
Post an explanation of those emerging issues in the mental health care arena that the policymakers address and those that are in need of policy advocacy and why. Then, explain what strategies social workers might use to ensure that clients/populations receive necessary mental health services. Finally, explain the mental health commitment standards and mental health services in your state. In your explanation, refer to the services covered under your state’s Medicaid program.
Respond by expanding on the posts regarding what social workers can do to ensure that clients/populations receive necessary mental health services. In your response, explain the ethical responsibility related to mental health care in host settings that social workers must uphold when they encounter conflicts in administration and professional values. For example, how might you balance insurance, service, and continuity of care?
Support your response with specific references to the resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.
Colleague 1: AH
According to Popple & Leighninger (2019), "advocates urge a number of improvements, changes, and protections, including effective grievance and appeal procedures; coverage of a full array of treatments and interventions, including community-based services such as housing programs and vocational training; greater use of outcome measures; parity or equality of insurance benefits for those with physical and for those with mental illness; and adequate attention to the needs of those with severe and chronic mental illness" (pg. 176). These make up many of the emerging issues in the mental health care arena that need to be addressed to best provide assistance and treatment to those with mental illness. A specific issue that needs policy advocacy discussed by Mental Health America (n.d) is the fact that mental health conditions should be treated long before a crisis occurs and they gave the example that people do not wait years to treat things like cancer or diabetes, so why should mental health be any different? Early identification could help alleviate the vast amount of crises people with mental health conditions face. Another policy that needs to be addressed for advocacy for change is the Affordable Care Act (ACA). According to Daniels & Ritter (2018), there is a coverage gap associated with the ACA regulations. In 2012, the Supreme Court made the expansion of Medicaid to widen services that was optional to each state. With this, a lower reimbursement rate from Medicaid discourage community behavioral health services often leaving the only option of seeking care in the emergency rooms. Because of this "patients endure long stays in the emergency departments waiting on state sponsored beds leading to uncompensated care and increased tax payer burden" (Daniels & Ritter, 2018, pg. 229).
Strategies social workers can use to ensure that the clients/populations receive necessary mental health services include advocating for more community-based programs for rehabilitation. According to Popple & Leighninger (2019), "studies have shown that psychiatric rehabilitation services for adults can reduce time spent in a psychiatric hospital..." (pg. 163). Outpatient treatment programs are more cost-effective as well as therapeutic. Another strategy would be to address the negative stigma surrounding mental health and receiving treatment that often results in many people not reaching out for services. There is a misrepresentation of people who have mental health conditions or illnesses and education needs to be provided. Access to health care is another strategy social workers can employ by helping to develop or write a policy that aims to ensure everyone receives the necessary services.
The mental health commitment standards and mental health services in Wisconsin include four signs of quality treatment that a person seeking assistance should ask. These include accreditation, evidence-based practices, family involvement, and other supports (Mental Health: Care and Coverage, 2019). NAMI Wisconsin (2019) also has several standards they include in their mission which are promoting public education and understanding of mental health, advocating on all levels to improve mental health care in Wisconsin, and establishing local affiliates to keep with the principles and guidelines. Mental health services covered under Wisconsin's Medicaid program include outpatient mental health services such as strength-based assessments, psychotherapy services, mental health clinical consultations, and other psychiatric services. There is also a policy that provides concurrent coverage services that includes a continuum of non-inpatient hospital substance abuse and mental health services, including day treatment and psychotherapy as well as outpatient substance abuse services concurrently with outpatient mental health and/or mental health day treatment services as long as both services are medically necessary and appropriate (Forward Health, 2019). As of April 2019, the only inpatient services include inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, or intermediate care facility services for patients in institutions for mental disease who are under 21, under 22 and were getting services upon turning 21, and over 65 (BadgerCare Plus Covered Services and Copays, 2019).
Resources:
Daniels, D., & Ritter, D. (2018). How Health Care Policy and Laws Have Impacted Mental Health Delivery. Southern Law Journal, 28(2), 229–245. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=134394826&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Popple, P. R., & Leighninger, L. (2019). The policy-based profession: An introduction to social welfare policy analysis for social workers (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Mental Health America. (n.d.). Retrieved July 3, 2019, from www.mentalhealthamerica.net
Forward Health. (2019). Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Retrieved from https://www.forwardhealth.wi.gov/WIPortal/Subsystem/KW/Print.aspx?ia=1&p=1&sa=44&s=2&c=61
BadgerCare Plus Covered Services and Copays. (2019, April 18). Retrieved from https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/badgercareplus/services.htm
Mental Health: Care and Coverage. (2019, May 31). Retrieved from https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/mh/hccindex.htm
NAMI Wisconsin. (2019). Retrieved from https://namiwisconsin.org/
Colleague 2: NS
According to Puras and Gooding (2019), the most significant emerging issues in mental health care in 2019 have to do with access to treatment, and this is the area in which there is the greatest need for policy advocacy and reform, and in which policymakers are currently working the hardest. According to Mental Health America (2019), although over 18% of Americans suffer from mental health issues, 20% of those individuals are unable to access care. It is essential that policymakers and advocates focus their attention on decreasing this gap, as mental health issues contribute to a wide range of other social problems.
In addition to policy advocacy, there are several strategies social workers might use to help clients and populations to access appropriate mental health services. In the first place, social workers should educate themselves about the local, state, and federal services available through welfare and health care systems such as Medicaid and Medicare. This will enable them to correctly advise clients and help them access services which may seem inaccessible or difficult to obtain. Social workers should also use strategies which involve partnering with key community organizations such as schools, care homes, and job centers, in order to deliver services such as counselling where they are most badly needed.
In North Carolina, mental health commitment standards require than an individual be a danger to themselves, to others, or to property, and/or need nourishment, care or protection (Treatment Advocacy Center, 2019, n.p.). Mental Health Services in North Carolina are provided by the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services, who provide (among others) in home care for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, certified community clinics, and substance abuse rehabilitation services (NCDHHS, 2019, n.p.). Behavioural health services including “diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative, palliative or case management needs” are available through the North Carolina Medicaid program (NCDHHS, 2019, n.p.).
References
Mental Health America (2019). The State of Mental Health in America. Retrieved from https://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/issues/state-mental-health-america.
NCDHHS (2019). Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services. Retrieved from https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/mhddsas.
NCDHHS (2019). Behavioral Health Services. Retrieved from https://medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/providers/programs-services/mental-health/behavioral-health-services.
Puras, D., & Gooding, P. (2019). Mental health and human rights in the 21st century. World Psychiatry, 18(1), 42-43.
Treatment Advocacy Center (2019). North Carolina. Retrieved from https://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/browse-by-state/north-carolina.
