Employer focus on mental health to increase given COVID-19 and work from home: Anxiety, stress, depression, and PTSD have jumped significantly during the pandemic, and employers are looking to learn from each other about addressing these issues and the overall behavioral health and well-being of their employees. The health care system—and, in fact, the nation—is facing unprecedented challenges that continue to escalate. Mental health is expected to receive greater attention under the Biden administration, and the Association’s American Health Policy Institute will seek positive change by participating in policy, data, and practice initiatives to drive necessary transformation. The American Health Policy Institute will seek positive change regarding mental health benefits through a number of policy, data, and practice initiatives including:
The Path Forward for Mental Health and Substance Use: The Path Forward is a disciplined, private sector approach to systematically and measurably accelerate implementation of five proven best practices for increasing access to behavioral health care. The Path Forward is the result of a collaboration among seven influential, national organizations: National Alliance of Healthcare Purchasing Coalitions, HR Policy Association, American Health Policy Institute, American Psychiatric Association (APA), APA Foundation Center for Workplace Mental Health, The Bowman Family Foundation, and Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute.
The Path Forward is focused on policy and practice changes that are clear, specific and proven effective. The plan centers on accelerating implementation of Five Strategic Reforms:
- Improve access to in-network behavioral health specialists.
- Expand mental health/substance-use disorder screening and monitoring through measurement-based care (MBC).
- Expand integration of behavioral health care into primary care settings through implementation of the Collaborative Care model.
- Improve and expand use of tele-behavioral health.
- Achieve mental health parity.
These reforms can be implemented in the near term with no additional research needed. There is already clear and compelling evidence of patient outcomes and reduction of total healthcare costs. These strategies were selected specifically because of their ability to address a growing behavioral healthcare crisis driven by the effects of COVID-19 on behavioral health and the economy. Funding requests from health plans, providers, employers and philanthropy organizations are underway and necessary for the success of the Path Forward.
The Mental Health Index—U.S. Worker Edition: HR Policy Association and the American Health Policy Institute are partnering with National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, One Mind at Work and Total Brain on building the Mental Health Index. The Index is powered by Total Brain, a mental health and brain performance self-monitoring and self-care platform focused on monitoring brain capacities and the risks of those capacities becoming impaired over time by mental conditions. The full Mental Health Index results can be found here: https://www.totalbrain.com/mentalhealthindex/.
HR Policy Association members interested in Total Brain can participate in a free 3-month offering and gain preferred discounts.