The Assignment: (1- to 2-page Comparison Grid; 1- to 2-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement)

Part 1: Legislation Comparison Grid

Based on the health-related bill (proposed, not enacted) you selected, complete the Legislation Comparison Grid Template. Be sure to address the following:

• Determine the legislative intent of the bill you have reviewed.
• Identify the proponents/opponents of the bill.
• Identify the target populations addressed by the bill.
• Where in the process is the bill currently? Is it in hearings or committees?
• Is it receiving press coverage?

Part 2: Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement

Based on the health-related bill you selected, develop a 1- to 2-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement that addresses the following:

• Advocate a position for the bill you selected and write testimony in support of your position.
• Describe how you would address the opponent to your position. Be specific and provide examples.
• Recommend at least one amendment to the bill in support of your position.

SAMPLE SOLUTION- NURS 6050 week 4 Assignment

Nurs6050 wk 4 Legislation Comparison Grid & Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement

Part 1: Legislation Comparison Grid

Determine the legislative intent of the bill you have reviewed.

The reviewed bill is H.R.945 – Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2019. Introduced by Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA-5), the bill seeks to amend title 18 of the Social Security Act with the intention of providing for the coverage of mental health counseling services, and family and marriage therapist services under the Medicare program’s part B. The intent of the bill is to ensure that Medicare, as a government insurance program, pays for the mental health services sought by families. With this bill, the mental health of families would be improved since they would have access to the required medical care. This is particularly useful for low-income families who may be unable to personally pay for mental health services (Congress.gov, 2021).

Identify the proponents/opponents of the bill.

The proponents of the bill would be low-income families that are beneficiaries of Medicare who would perceive the bill as an opportunity to improve access to mental care services. In addition, medical personnel would be proponents of the bill in their position as activists for patients’ interests.

The opponents of the bill would be the stakeholders concerned with the ballooning Medicare costs. In enacting the bill, the Medicare budget would increase so that the government has to spend more public resources. This is a concern as there are limited public funds that can be spent in other health areas.

Identify the target populations addressed by the bill.

The target population is low-income families who are beneficiaries of Medicare. These families already rely on Medicare to help pay for their medical care. However, Medicare does not cover their mental health care needs. Enacting their bills would ensure that Medicare pays for the unique mental health needs of the family thus reducing their financial burden for the care services.

Where in the process is the bill currently? Is it in hearings or committees?

The bill is before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to be amended after a voice vote. The committee voted to recommend that the bill be considered further. The bill was then reintroduced as part of a related bill, H.R. 432 (GovTrack.us, 2021).

Is it receiving press coverage?

The bill is not receiving much press coverage. However, there have been some advocacy reports on the bill by organizations such as the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).

Part 2: Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement

Advocate a position for the bill you selected and write testimony in support of your position.

There is a need to support the bill. That is because the Covid-19 pandemic has created a situation in which more marriages and families are in need of mental health services to remain intact. In addition, the families that are beneficiaries of Medicare have been identified as being unable to pay for medical services without support. This implies that they would be unable to pay for mental health services unless they receive support. By enacting the bill, these families would have the opportunity the care they need (Milstead & Short, 2019).

Describe how you would address the opponent to your position.

Opponents of the bill are likely to be concerned about the increasing financial burden as the government would have to pay for the rising Medicare costs. The undeniable reality is that mental health concerns facing families and marriages are a concern that threatens social institutions. This has significant financial implications as the families break down. Although the cost of the bill is high in the short term, the long-term benefits justify the costs as they would allow marriages and families to remain intact (Varcarolis & Fosbre, 2020).

Recommend at least one amendment to the bill in support of your position.

There is a need to amend the bill to extend beyond Medicare beneficiaries. That is because the Covid-19 pandemic has increased the number of marriages and families who need mental health and substance use services. Focusing on Medicare beneficiaries and ignoring other populations would result in only part of the problem being addressed. Extending the coverage outside Medicare would be more beneficial (Milstead & Short, 2019).

References

Congress.gov (2021). H.R.945 – Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2019. https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/945/text

GovTrack.us. (2021). H.R. 945 — 116th Congress: Mental Health Access Improvement Act of 2019. Retrieved from https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr945

Milstead, J. & Short, N. (2019). Health Policy and Politics: A Nurse’s Guide (6^th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Varcarolis, E., & Fosbre, C. (2020). Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Communication Approach to Evidence-Based care. Elsevier.