Module 2 Assignment: US Mental Health Policies and Administration

This report provides an overview of mental health policies in the United States, focusing on the agendas of recent US presidents (George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump) and their approaches to addressing mental health issues. It examines the key initiatives, resource allocations, and administrative focuses of each president, highlighting the evolution of policy over time. The report also includes a detailed analysis of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), outlining its provisions related to mental health coverage and its impact on access to care. The factors influencing accessibility to mental health services are discussed, with an emphasis on disparities related to geographic location, income, and race. The report uses a legislation comparison grid template to analyze the Affordable Care Act, including its legislative intent, proponents, opponents, target population, and current status. The provided solution is useful for students studying public health, healthcare policy, and related fields, providing valuable insights into the complexities of mental health policy in the United States.

FACT SHEET
Topic
Mental health issue in the United States
Key Agendas
 Mental illness is common in the United States, and it is responsible for most disabilities
among people, such as maniac depression, schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive
disorders. An estimate 27% of Americans are found to suffer from mental
disorder(Melnyke, 2016).
 The past three presidents of the US, George Bush, Barack Obama, and currently, Donald
Trump have focused on reducing the burdens of mental health issues and promoting
accessibility to appropriate care to all the citizens.
 George W. Bush suggested comprehensive screening of mental disorders for every
individuals irrespective of their ages. He announced “New Freedom Commision on
Mental Health” initiatives to help the people having intellectual disabilities with
enhanced access to education and also addressing the problems of current mental health
service delivery system. He also aimed to cover the costs of mental health on the same
level as other medical services by passing the Medicare Modernization Act
 Barack Obama helped to build a community health centers which primarily deals with
mental health disorders. In addition, he also provided funds to the administrative agencies
for promoting the standard of patient care and ensuring it is affordable to all.
 The current President, Donald Trump addressed the needs of children and adult who have
been diagnosed with critical mental disorder for improving their access to inpatient
treatment ward.
Legislation Comparison Grid Template
Use this document to complete Part 1 of the Module 2 Assessment Legislation Comparison Grid
and Testimony/Advocacy Statement
Health-related
Bill Name Affordable Care Act

Bill Number H.R.
Description This act was enacted by the former president of America, Barack Obama
in 2010 with an aim to reduce the health care cost, so that everyone can
afford equal health service with the help of premium tax credits. He also
wanted to improve the the quality of life of those individuals who does
not get health insurance for their jobs(Mechanic & Olfson, 2016).
Federal or State? Federal
Legislative Intent
For lowering the insurance costs for citizens who are not eligible for
private health insurance programs(Olfson et al, 2018).
Proponents/
Opponents Proponents: Democrats
Opponents: Republicans
Target Population
Low-Income Citizens, Small Business Employers, and Senior Adults.
Status of the bill (Is
it in hearings or
committees? Is it
receiving press
coverage?)
The bill is still effective till date.
General
Notes/Comments The Affordable Care Act also covers people who suffer from mental
disorders or other intellectual disabilities(Sommers et al, 2017). It helped
in expanding the Mental Health Parity and Equity Act in 2008. With the
help of ACA, people having mental illness can apply for health
insurances , which will serve treatment at a low cost.

REFERENCE:
Mechanic, D., & Olfson, M. (2016). The relevance of the Affordable Care Act for improving
mental health care. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 12, 515-542.
Olfson, M., Wall, M., Barry, C. L., Mauro, C., & Mojtabai, R. (2018). Effects of the Affordable
Care Act on private insurance coverage and treatment of behavioral health conditions in
young adults. American journal of public health, 108(10), 1352-1354.
Sommers, B. D., Maylone, B., Blendon, R. J., Orav, E. J., & Epstein, A. M. (2017). Three-year
impacts of the Affordable Care Act: improved medical care and health among low-
income adults. Health Affairs, 36(6), 1119-1128.
Melnyk, B. M. (2019). The Mental Health Epidemic in America: Evidence-based Action Tactics
that Work!.