Review the issue of “Mental Health Parity” (its importance, its legal and implementation history), and make a case for how to increase mental health parity.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Mental Health Parity: Advancing Equal Access to Mental Health Care
Introduction
Mental health is an integral component of overall well-being, yet it has long been stigmatized and inadequately addressed. Recognizing the importance of mental health, policymakers have sought to ensure equal access to mental health care through the concept of mental health parity. In this essay, we will review the significance of mental health parity, its legal and implementation history, and present a compelling case for increasing mental health parity to bridge the gap between mental health and physical health care.
Importance of Mental Health Parity
Mental health parity refers to the principle that mental health conditions should be treated on par with physical health conditions in terms of insurance coverage, access to care, and treatment options. Historically, mental health has been subject to discrimination, leading to limited insurance coverage, higher out-of-pocket costs, and inadequate access to services. Mental health parity is crucial for several reasons:
Reducing stigma: By treating mental health conditions on an equal footing with physical health conditions, mental health parity works to reduce the stigma associated with seeking help for mental health issues. It sends a clear message that mental health is just as important as physical health.
Improving access to care: Mental health parity ensures that individuals have equal access to necessary mental health services. It eliminates financial barriers that may prevent people from seeking treatment, thereby improving overall mental well-being and preventing the escalation of mental health issues.
Promoting early intervention: Timely access to mental health care is vital for early intervention and prevention of more severe mental health disorders. Mental health parity encourages individuals to seek help at the earliest signs of distress, leading to more effective treatment outcomes and reduced long-term costs.
Legal and Implementation History
The journey towards achieving mental health parity has been a gradual process marked by legal and legislative advancements. Here are key milestones:
Mental Health Parity Act (1996): This act was the first federal legislation aimed at equalizing insurance coverage for mental health conditions. However, it only applied to group insurance plans covering over 50 employees.
Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) (2008): Building upon the Mental Health Parity Act, MHPAEA expanded coverage by including substance use disorder treatment and applied to a wider range of insurance plans, including employer-sponsored plans.
Affordable Care Act (2010): The Affordable Care Act (ACA) further advanced mental health parity by mandating that insurance plans offered through state exchanges provide coverage for mental health and substance use disorder services as an essential health benefit.
21st Century Cures Act (2016): This act reinforced and clarified existing mental health parity laws, directing federal agencies to improve enforcement and compliance.
Despite these legislative efforts, challenges remain in implementing and enforcing mental health parity fully. Insufficient oversight, limited transparency, and varying interpretations of parity requirements have hindered its widespread effectiveness.
Increasing Mental Health Parity
To strengthen mental health parity and ensure equitable access to mental health care, several key steps can be taken:
Enhanced enforcement and oversight: Regulatory agencies should bolster their efforts in monitoring insurance plans’ compliance with parity laws. This includes conducting regular audits, imposing penalties for violations, and providing clear guidance on compliance requirements.
Greater transparency: Insurers should be required to provide detailed information about their coverage for mental health services, making it easier for consumers to understand their rights and make informed decisions when selecting plans.
Improved provider network adequacy: Ensuring an adequate number of mental health providers in insurance networks is essential for achieving true parity. Policymakers should incentivize providers to enter the mental health field and address geographic disparities in access to care.
Education and awareness campaigns: Public education campaigns can help combat stigma surrounding mental health and raise awareness about the importance of equal access to mental health care. These campaigns should target both the general public and healthcare professionals.
Expanded telehealth services: Telehealth has emerged as a valuable tool for increasing access to mental health services, particularly in underserved areas. Policymakers should support initiatives that expand telehealth coverage and reimbursement for mental health care.
Conclusion
Achieving mental health parity is crucial for improving access to mental health care and reducing disparities between mental and physical health services. By reducing stigma, improving access, promoting early intervention, and addressing implementation challenges through enhanced enforcement and oversight, greater transparency, improved provider network adequacy, educational campaigns, and expanded telehealth services, we can bridge the gap between mental health and physical health care. It is imperative that policymakers, insurers, healthcare providers, and the public work collaboratively to prioritize mental health parity as a fundamental component of a comprehensive healthcare system.
