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HR 4861 Policy Brief

H.R.4861- Effective Suicide Screening and Assessment in the

Emergency Department Act of 2020

Nikeesha Gowkaran

Nova Southeastern University

NSG 5130

Professor Theresa Kyle

March 21, 2022

Introduction of the Bill

Following the Act, patients in emergency compartments with high suicidal risk may be linked to therapy and mental healthcare via a competitive funding program created by the legislation. The program is offered to up to forty hospitals with emergency departments and on-site specialists that the program's administrators have approved. Grant money may be used to educate emergency room staff, create procedures and policies for determining and assessing people with suicidal risks, and coordinate treatment for such people. Health and Human Services (HHS) will offer priority financing to certain hospital categories.

Background

The Legislature approved this Act on the 29th of September, 2020, but the Senate never took it up for debate during that session. There may have been another bill that had the provisions of this one, even though it was not enacted. There are several ways in which legislative text may be re-introduced in subsequent sessions of Congress in new legislation or added to larger measures as they go through the legislative process. Companion bills are the most common (GovTrack, 2019)

Key Regulatory and Legislative History

According to Congress.Gov, during the 116th Congress of the United States, HR 4861 (116th) was introduced. To become law, a requirement for approval by both the House of Representatives and the Senate is the same, and the president signs it. Every two years, the bill numbers reset. It implies that there is further legislation with the HR 4861 number. It is specifically from the 116th Congress of the United States of America. On the 3rd of January, 2019, the 116th Congress, which convened from the 3rd of January, 2019 through the 31st of December, 2021, submitted legislation to accomplish this goal. A piece of legislation has not been enacted after a Congress gets thrown out of the records.

Policy Options and Alternatives

H.R.4861 – This measure funds public health initiatives and revises tax laws to treat COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). The bill supports pharmaceutical production and supply chains to prevent drug diversion, expands Medicare telehealth coverage, and addresses health inequities, maternity and infant health, and mental health. S.3006 created a competitive financing structure for up to 40 institutes with emergency departments to connect persons in emergency divisions who have high suicidal risk with mental health and psychotherapy. EMS staff can be educated and protocols implemented to detect, evaluate, treat, and coordinate suicidal patients via grants. Human Services and Human department may prioritize particular health centers, such as those with limited resources and those located in areas with high suicide risk.

Pros and Cons of Policy Options

The benefits of putting HR 4861 into effect include the fact that it would encourage more individuals to purchase health insurance by cutting premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. The downside is, it will not address the issue of growing taxes since the federal government will be seeking money to maintain the insurance affordability funds.

Stakeholder Perspective

Having bipartisan support indicates that the measure has a larger power base than previously assumed. Republican Senators Bilirakis, G. Katko, and J. Davis, as well as Democrats Eligel and E. Tonko and Representatives P. Gabbard, T. Luria, E. Titus, D. Rush, and B. Krishanooprithi, endorsed healthcare bill 4861.

Recommended Actions

Individuals who are depressed or suicidal always seek treatment in the emergency department (ED) (Shand et al., 2017). Patients who are at threat of depression and suicide should be detected by healthcare professionals who have received specialized training to identify these symptoms. Collaboration between outpatient and inpatient facilities is crucial to ensure that the same quality of care is provided to suicidal patients in both environments.

Reference

All Info – H.R.4861 – 116th Congress (2019-2020): Effective Suicide Screening and Assessment in the Emergency Department Act of 2020. (2020, the 30th of September).

HR 4861 (116th): Effective Suicide Screening and Assessment in the Emergency Department Act of 2020. (2019). GovTrack.Us.

Shand, F. L., Batterham , P. J., Chan, J. K. Y., Pirkis, J., Spittal , M. J., Woodward, A., & Christensen, H. (2018, December). Experience of health care services after

Text of HR 4861 (116th): Effective Suicide Screening and Assessment in the Emergency Department Act of 2020 (Referred to Senate Committee version). (2019). GovTrack.Us.