NURS FPX 4065 Assessment 3 Ethical and Policy Factors in Care Coordination
Student Name
Capella University
NURS-FPX4065 Patient-Centered Care Coordination
Prof. Name
Date
Ethical and Policy Factors in Care Coordination
Hello, I am ____________. I am honored to speak with you today. I serve as a care coordinator at Longevity Center, an organization dedicated to supporting individuals with mental health conditions through education, access to care, and ongoing support services.
Agenda
This presentation explores the ethical and policy factors affecting mental health care coordination at Longevity Center. It emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary care, highlights key laws such as the Baker Act and HIPAA, and examines the ANA Code of Ethics. Ethical dilemmas, including equitable access and cultural sensitivity, are discussed. The presentation also focuses on strategies for reducing disparities through community collaboration and sustainable care systems.
Significance of Care Coordination in Chronic Disease Management
Care coordination is essential for effective mental health management at Longevity Center. It ensures patients receive timely and appropriate support across diverse care settings. Adults with mental health conditions often require services from multiple providers and community resources (Bury et al., 2022). Fragmented services can lead to symptom exacerbation, repeated crises, and increased healthcare costs.
In Florida, approximately 2,889,000 adults are affected by mental health conditions, and in 2021, 40.9% reported symptoms of depression (National Alliance on Mental Illness [NAMI], n.d.). Efficient care coordination improves access and enhances outcomes for patients at Longevity Center.
Governmental Policies’ Effect on Care Coordination
The delivery of mental health services at Longevity Center is influenced by both federal and state policies.
| Policy | Description | Impact on Care Coordination |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Mental Health Act (Baker Act) | Provides crisis intervention services and legal protection during psychiatric interventions | Ensures patient rights and structured crisis management |
| HIPAA | Protects patient health information | Facilitates secure sharing of patient data among care providers, supporting coordinated care |
| Recent Florida Policy Reforms | Supports integrated behavioral health and value-based care models | Encourages patient-centered approaches, early intervention, and preventive strategies |
| Community Resources (NAMI Florida) | Peer support, education, and navigation services | Complements clinical care and enhances access for underserved populations |
These policies collectively foster coordinated and patient-centered mental health care.
Ethical Questions or Dilemmas for Care Coordination
National Policy Provision
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) aims to expand access to healthcare and improve quality while controlling costs. While this supports integrated mental health care, ethical dilemmas arise when financial constraints or standardized care pathways limit patient autonomy (Pincus & Fleet, 2022).
Value-based care models prioritize cost-effective interventions, which can conflict with personalized mental health care, creating ethical strain for providers and patients (Braun et al., 2023).
State Provision Policy
Florida’s Medicaid behavioral health programs are intended to support low-income and underserved populations. However, ethical challenges emerge when care delays, staff shortages, and administrative barriers compromise care quality (Patel et al., 2025).
NURS FPX 4065 Assessment 3 Ethical and Policy Factors in Care Coordination
| Ethical Concern | Description |
|---|---|
| Beneficence | Delays or limited access lead to worsening conditions, challenging the principle of promoting well-being |
| Justice | Medicaid recipients may receive lower-quality care than privately insured patients, highlighting disparities |
| Fragmentation | Complex managed care protocols and regional shortages disrupt coordinated care at Longevity Center |
Local Provision Policy
Community mental health initiatives aim to provide education and local support networks. Organizations like NAMI Florida offer free screenings, counseling, workshops, and peer support (NAMI Florida, 2025).
| Ethical Challenge | Description |
|---|---|
| Resource Allocation | High demand and limited capacity may exclude vulnerable populations |
| Fairness & Justice | Inconsistent application of eligibility criteria raises ethical concerns |
| Public Trust | Fragmented service delivery may undermine confidence in local mental health programs |
Impact of the Code of Ethics for Nurses
The ANA Code of Ethics provides essential guidance for delivering ethical and coordinated mental health care.
| Provision | Role in Care Coordination |
|---|---|
| Provision 2: Commitment to the Patient | Prioritizes patient needs, dignity, and advocacy for patient-centered care |
| Provision 8: Collaboration to Reduce Disparities | Promotes collective efforts to minimize inequities and deliver culturally responsive care |
These provisions emphasize the ethical principles of beneficence, justice, non-maleficence, and autonomy, ensuring nurses make decisions that foster trust, equity, and safety (Braun et al., 2023). At Longevity Center, adherence to these principles strengthens care planning and promotes treatment adherence.
Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity
Social determinants of health (SDOH) significantly influence care outcomes. At Longevity Center, patients face barriers such as economic instability, limited transportation, lack of insurance, and food insecurity. These challenges threaten the ethical principle of justice by restricting equitable access to care.
The ANA Code of Ethics mandates that nurses recognize and address systemic inequities, tailoring care to individual social and cultural contexts (ANA, 2025). Addressing these factors enhances treatment adherence, improves outcomes, and promotes holistic well-being.
Recommendations for Support and Collaboration
Nurses play a critical role in driving ethical care through collaboration, community engagement, and policy advocacy. Key partners include:
| Organization | Role |
|---|---|
| NAMI Florida | Peer counseling, education, support networks |
| Mental Health Association of Central Florida (MHACF) | Housing support, access to affordable care resources |
Guided by the ANA Code of Ethics, nurses are ethically responsible for advocating for culturally sensitive, person-centered care and overcoming institutional barriers at Longevity Center.
Conclusion
Ethical and policy-driven care coordination is essential for addressing mental health challenges at Longevity Center. By adhering to the ANA Code of Ethics and collaborating with community partners, nurses can overcome systemic barriers, enhance equity, and promote sustainable mental health outcomes. Integration of culturally sensitive interventions and policy support is key to advancing patient well-being.
References
ANA. (2025). Code of ethics for nurses. American Nurses Association. https://codeofethics.ana.org/home
Braun, E., Scholten, M., & Vollmann, J. (2023). Assisted suicide and the discrimination argument: Can people with mental illness fulfill beneficence‐ and autonomy‐based eligibility criteria? Bioethics, 38(1), 61–68. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.13243
Bury, D., Hendrick, D., Smith, T., Metcalf, J., & Drake, R. E. (2022). The psychiatric nurse care coordinator on a multi-disciplinary, community mental health treatment team. Community Mental Health Journal, 58(7), 1354–1360. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-022-00945-7
Florida Department of Children and Families. (2024). Baker act | Florida DCF. https://www.myflfamilies.com/crisis-services/baker-act
MHACF. (2025). About us. Mental Health Association of Central Florida. https://mhacf.org/learn-more/
NURS FPX 4065 Assessment 3 Ethical and Policy Factors in Care Coordination
NAMI Florida. (2025). Mission. National Alliance on Mental Illness Florida. https://namiflorida.org/about-nami-florida/mission/
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). Mental health in Florida. https://www.nami.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/FloridaStateFactSheet.pdf
Patel, R., Baser, O., Waters, H. C., Huang, D., Morrissey, L., Rodchenko, K., & Samayoa, G. (2025). Open access to antipsychotics in state medicaid programs: Effect on healthcare resource utilization and costs among patients with serious mental illness. Journal of Health Economics and Outcomes Research, 12(1), 222–229. https://doi.org/10.36469/001c.137909
Pincus, H. A., & Fleet, A. (2022). Value-based payment and behavioral health. JAMA Psychiatry, 80(1), 6–8. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.3538
Subbian, V., Galvin, H. K., Petersen, C., & Solomonides, A. (2021). Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues (ELSI) in mental health informatics. In Health Informatics (pp. 479–503). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70558-9_18