Closing the Gap: The Next Steps in Achieving Mental Health Parity

Introduction

Mental health parity has been a hot topic for years, but the gap between mental and physical healthcare still exists. That’s why it’s essential to discuss the next steps in achieving true equality in how we treat these two crucial areas of healthcare. Today, we’ll be exploring what needs to happen to close this gap and provide everyone with equal access to vital mental health services. So fasten your seatbelts and get ready for an insightful ride!

What is Mental Health Parity?

Mental health parity is a policy goal that aims to ensure that all people have equitable access to mental health care, regardless of their income or insurance status. In recent years, there has been increasing awareness of the importance of mental health parity and the need for action to address the disparities that exist in mental health care.

A 2015 study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that across 11 States studied, people with incomes below 250% of poverty were nearly three times as likely as those in households above 250% of poverty to lacking any form of mental health coverage. Additionally, people living in rural areas were almost four times as likely as those living in urban areas to lack any form of mental health coverage.

Mental health parity is an important policy goal because it addresses a significant disparity in access to mental health care. According to the SAMHSA study, people living in households below 250% of poverty are nearly three times as likely as those in households above 250% of poverty to lacking any form of mental health coverage. Additionally, people living in rural areas are almost four times as likely as those living in urban areas to lack any form of mental health coverage. Closing the gaps between different groups within society is critical if we want to achieve social justice and build a more inclusive society

What are the Next Steps in Closing the Gap?

The American Psychological Association has identified six steps that need to be taken in order to close the mental health parity gap. The first step is increasing awareness of the issue. The second step is creating a baseline of understanding about what mental health parity means. The third step is developing policies and procedures that support mental health parity. The fourth step is enforcing those policies and procedures. The fifth step is training staff members who work with individuals with mental illness and/or disabilities. The sixth and final step is evaluating the progress made and making necessary adjustments.

There are a number of ways to help increase awareness of the mental health parity gap, including conducting public education campaigns, sponsoring events, and working with state/local groups. It’s also important to create a baseline of understanding about what mental health parity means by collecting data on how different states compare regarding access to care, quality of care, and equality for individuals with mental illness or disabilities.

Once policymakers understand the gaps in coverage and services, they can develop policies that will promote mental health parity across all programs and settings. These policies might include mandating specific treatments or services for those with mental illness or disabilities, setting standards for credentialing professionals who work with those populations, or creating funding streams specifically designated for addressing disparities in care. Implementing these policies will require significant effort from both lawmakers and practitioners, but it’s essential if we want to achieve true equality for people living with mental illness or disabilities.

Enforcing policies and procedures related to

Conclusion

It is clear that we still have a long way to go before mental health parity is achieved in the United States. However, by learning about and discussing these challenges, we can work together to find solutions that will help ensure everyone has access to quality care. In the meantime, it is important for all of us to continue speaking up and raising awareness about the issue so that we can make progress on this crucial front.