What is the current policy or health policy issue and how might it impact nursing or healthcare

Sample Answer

RE In support of HB 9 Education, Department of; develop guidelines for the use of telehealth services in public schools

I am writing to you concerning House bill number 9 of Georgia entitled “Education, Department of; develop guidelines for the use of telehealth services in public schools.” (“Georgia”, 2021). This is a bill that seeks an amendment to Part 3 of article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia.

This bill amendment is seeking to implore the education department in conjunction with Behavioural Health and Developmental Disabilities department to establish guidelines to direct the utilization of telehealth services in public schools (“Georgia”, 2021). Such telehealth services are related to providing behavioural health services and mental health services to the learners during normal school activities or during school-related events.

In addition, the bill seeks to offer guidelines in qualifications of persons that have authority with their practice scope to help learners access behavioural health and mental health services through telehealth while they are attending school-related functions or at while at school.

The law also seeks to establish parental consent legal requirements for offering telehealth services and, finally, the necessary measures for ensuring that transmitted data during the telehealth provision is secure.

From the literature, the use of telehealth has been on the rise in the recent past and has been vital in helping individuals access health. The implication is that where access to health services had been proving a barrier to getting treatment and physician’s services, the use of telehealth improves access and enables individuals to access the services and treatment even remotely.

Recent research has shown the importance of using telehealth services to offer behavioural health services and mental health services during the Covid-19 times (Reay et al., 2019). The coming of the Covid-19 pandemic has not only distressed and caused mental health issues to adults but also to the school-going children, and therefore, there is a need to help them overcome the problems using telehealth.

Another recent research also shows that telehealth services are appropriate and feasible to support patients and their family members cope with the mental and health issues caused by the pandemic (Zhou et al., 2020).

The current policy regarding the provision of behavioural health services and mental health services in public schools has been functional since 2015. The Department of Behavioural Health and Developmental Disabilities established a program known as the Georgia Apex program for increasing the accessibility and availability of mental health services for middle and elementary schools (Harris, 2020).

With the coming of the pandemic, providers quickly shifted to telehealth to provide services. In addition, policymakers and state agency leaders reacted to help in promoting and preserving access to support and services through telehealth. Some of the enacted policies pertain to access, care, and coordination where funds are to be allocated to support an evaluation of telehealth outcomes and practices.

Besides, part of the policy directs pursuant of opportunities that can ensure that the school-going children and their respective families have access to broadband connectivity and internet access. Such policies are likely to positively impact healthcare as through telehealth; more children will get help through health care services.
I propose changes adjustments to the current policy and agreeing with the proposals in the bill HB 9.

The first proposal is that telehealth providers should receive a valid certification from the State officials to ensure that whoever offers telehealth is qualified, hence better services to the public schools. I also propose that the telehealth reimbursement restrictions and telehealth delivery method limitations be relaxed to improve access to the required services.

The changes are likely to benefits various stakeholders. One of those who will benefit includes the school children in need of behavioural health and mental health services. Indeed, one in every six children in the United States of America aged between two and eight years has a diagnosed developmental, behavioural, and mental disorder. And if not attended, mental health issues can result in adverse effects such as behavioural issues in and out of the classroom.

Dwindled class performance and increased truancy rates (Ghandour et al., 2019). So with changes in legislation, the children will have more access to the services to telehealth hence reducing the negative effects of the mental and behavioural health issues.

The other stakeholders that are set to benefit are the parents since their children will have better access hence improve care and potentially lower costs. The healthcare providers are other stakeholders benefiting. Interest groups, parents, and children are all supporting the legislation due to its potential benefits.

The legislation has potential impacts on the nursing practice and healthcare system. For example, there is likely to be reduced congestion in hospital spaces as some of the conditions will be handled remotely through telemedicine. The nursing practice will also be likely to be affected in that the nurses will be required more to connect to patients online and work with them online.

Therefore, they will be needed to quickly acquire the necessary skills for online interactions and an online security issue. I, therefore, appeal to you to vote a yes for HB 9 when the time for voting comes as it will not only improve medical access for the children but also improve the overall patient outcomes.

References

• Georgia general assembly (2021, Jan 16). Education, Department of; develop guidelines for use of telehealth services in public schools. https //www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/58794.
  
• Ghandour, R. M., Sherman, L. J., Vladutiu, C. J., Ali, M. M., Lynch, S. E., Bitsko, R. H., & Blumberg, S. J. (2019). Prevalence and treatment of depression, anxiety, and conduct problems in US children. The Journal of pediatrics, 206, 256-267. doi 10.1016/j.jpeds.2018.09.021.
  
• Harris. A (2020, Jan 20). Supporting Children’s Mental Health In Georgia Schools How
  Three School-Based Mental Health Providers Serve Students
  https //georgiavoices.org/supporting-childrens-mental-health-in-georgia-schools/
  Reay, R. E., Looi, J. C., & Keightley, P. (2020). <? covid19?> Telehealth mental health services during COVID-19 summary of evidence and clinical practice. Australasian Psychiatry, 28(5), 514-516. doi 10.1177/1039856220943032
  
• Zhou, X., Snoswell, C. L., Harding, L. E., Bambling, M., Edirippulige, S., Bai, X., & Smith, A. C. (2020). The role of telehealth in reducing the mental health burden from COVID-19. Telemedicine and e-Health, 26(4), 377-379. https //doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2020.0068