Week 9 Discussion: Health Care Policies
Step 1: Consider a problem related to health that impacts society that is important to address. Why do you believe this problem is important to society in general? Use data to explain your reasons. Outline a policy recommendation to address this problem, Why do you suppose that this policy would be successful in addressing the problem? What impact in health outcomes do you expect to see if the policy is enacted?
Include in-text citation and references in apa form
Also respond to the 2 discussion response below. Provide a meaningful response and adding to the response instead of saying, “good job” or “that’s a great.”
Discussion response #1
A huge problem, and it affects me personally as well, in healthcare is the ridiculous price of insulin. It is a life saving drug, yet people are having to ration it because they can not afford to buy it as often as they need to, even with health insurance (Rajkumar, 2020). It is important because without the drug, people are getting sicker, getting complications from diabetes like diabetic ketoacidosis, which can lead to coma and death. I have a family friend who is lucky to be alive right now because he decided that because he could not afford the insulin, that he would only take it sometimes. He is now partially blind and on dialysis three times a week, been on and off needing oxygen, and he is only forty.
A policy recommendation would be to make insulin free through all insurances. Most people who use insulin have type one and there is nothing else they can do in their life that will change the need for that insulin short of a pancreas transplant, and they do not grow on trees. The health outcome would be beneficial, people would be more adherent to to their treatment if they had access to their medication that they needed, leading to less hospitalizations for people (Eby et al., 2020).
Ebay, E., Bajpai, S., Fairies, D., Haynes, V., & Lage, M. (2020). The association between adherence to insulin therapy and health care costs for adults with type 2 diabetes: Evidence from a U.S. Retrospective claims database. Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 26(9). https://doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2020.26.9.1081 Links to an external site.
Rajkumar, S. (2020). The high cost of insulin in the United States: An urgent call to action. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 95(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2019.11.013 Links to an external site.
Discussion response #2:
One significant health problem impacting society is the raising prevalence of mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety. This problem is important to address because it affects a large portion of the population, leading to decreased quality of life, reduced productivity, and increased healthcare costs. Mental health issues can also contribute to other societal problems, such as substance use, homelessness, and even suicide.
To address this problem, I recommend implementing a comprehensive national mental health strategy that includes increased funding for mental health services, mental health education and awareness campaigns, integration of mental health into primary care, support for research and innovation, and workplace mental health programs. Providing sufficient funding for mental health is essential for creating effective mental health systems providing enough staff to deliver services and support to meet people’s needs (World Health Organization, 2021). This may include funding for community mental health centers, crisis intervention teams, and telehealth services. Launching nationwide campaigns to educate the public about mental health can reduce stigma and encourage individuals to seek treatment. According to Shim et al. (2022), awareness campaigns are an excellent way to help lessen the stigma surrounding mental health. These campaigns could target schools, workplaces, and communities. It is important to learn how to lessen stigma among healthcare providers, especially now that there is a global effort to include mental health services in primary care across both wealthy and developing countries (Kohrt et al., 2020). Training primary care providers to recognize and treat mental health conditions can integrate mental health into primary care. This integration could ensure that mental health is treated with the same importance as physical health and can identify issues early. Long-term research programs aim to create new ways to support mental health which includes approaches that focus on positive factors like kindness and helping others (Holmes et al., 2020). Investing in research can develop new and effective treatment for mental health disorders and encourage innovation in mental health care delivery, such as the use of digital tools and apps. Also, encouraging employers to implement mental health programs in the workplace, including assistance programs, mental health days, and stress management workshops could decrease this rising prevalence of mental health disorders.
If this policy is enacted, I would expect several positive health outcomes including improved access to care, reduced stigma, better integration of services, enhanced productivity, and lower healthcare costs. More individuals would have access to mental health services, leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment. Increased awareness and education would help reduce the stigma associated with mental health disorders and encourage more people to seek help. Integrated mental health into primary care could offer a more holistic approach to health care and improve overall patient outcomes. Implementing mental health in the workplace could lead to a more productive workplace, as employees would be healthier and more engaged. By addressing early interventions and effective treatment the long-term costs associated with untreated mental health disorders would decrease. Overall, this policy would create a more supportive and effective mental health care system, leading to better health outcomes and a healthier society.
References
Holmes, E. A., O’Connor, R. C., Perry, V. H., Tracey, I., Wessely, S., Arseneault, L., & Bullmore, E. (2020). Multidisciplinary research priorities for the COVID-19 pandemic: a call for action for mental health science. The lancet psychiatry, 7(6), 547-560
Kohrt, B. A., Turner, E. L., Rai, S., Bhardwaj, A., Sikkema, K. J., Adelekun, A., & Jordans, M. J. (2020). Reducing mental illness stigma in healthcare settings: proof of concept for a social contact intervention to address what matters most for primary care providers. Social Science & Medicine, 250, 112852.
Shim, Y. R., Eaker, R., & Park, J. (2022). Mental health education, awareness and stigma regarding mental illness among college students. Journal of Mental Health & Clinical Psychology, 6(2), 6-15
World Health Organization. (2021). Guidance on community mental health services: promoting person-centered and rights-based approaches. World Health Organization.