More than 1,200 employees at state psychiatric hospitals have retired during the COVID-19 pandemic, and just over half have been replaced, state officials said.
Meanwhile, courts have begun expediting cases of people accused of mentally ill crimes with the help of coronavirus economic stimulus packages. As a result, more psychiatric evaluations were ordered to determine whether they were competent to stand trial.
“It was a perfect storm,” said Kevin Tanner, director of the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
Over the past two years, Georgia lawmakers have passed a series of bills targeting the state’s mental and behavioral health crisis, which has grown in size and severity since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. These initiatives include parity legislation that requires: Insurance companies provide some level of coverage for mental health care and substance use disorders Reconfirmation comparable to physical health management federal requirementsand the development of a 988 system for emergency mental health crisis notifications.
Republicans and Democrats agree that supporting mental health workers is the biggest remaining challenge.
Low wages – Healthcare providers are struggling as a result of stagnant wages and outdated Medicaid reimbursement rates. Meanwhile, licensing obstacles are slowing out-of-state therapists from practicing in Georgia.
These talent shortages pose challenges for those in need. of Timely care.Georgia ranks 49th in access to care, according to Mental Health America’s 2023 Report.People often wait months to get an appointment, which can lead to mental health problems To develop into a crisis.
This year, lawmakers are looking to build on previous efforts by funding pay increases and reimbursement rates for state workers, pending a deal with the federal government. Several bills would also bring Georgia’s licensure requirements in line with other states and encourage more practicing mental health counselors to work in the state by allowing them to take the certification exam earlier. The purpose is
How they get there is still being studied.
large-scale national secession The workforce meant fewer people were available to treat people with mental illnesses and access the mental health system. For example, he held more than 30 positions as a psychologist, including those who conducted evaluations. Tanner said the position was vacant as of February.
Of the approximately 4,500 behavioral health and developmental disabilities employees in the state, most work in state psychiatric hospitals.Governor Brian Kemp’s budget year proposal Starting July 1, all state employees will receive a 4% cost-of-living raise on top of a one-time $1,000 bonus sent in December.
States require increased federal health care spending for private health care workers such as doctors, psychiatrists, clinicians, and those who bill Medicaid. Provider reimbursement rates. If approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, providers who serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities would see an increase in payments for their services by about 45 percent, and behavioral health providers by about 30 percent. That’s possible, spokesman Caleb McMichen said. DB HDD.
These interest rate increases could have made a life-changing difference in wages. Lacricia Izzard, worked for several years in a community-based behavioral health and developmental disability services organization. Eventually, due to her low pay and her desire to improve her skill set, she quit those jobs and struck out on her own as a telemedicine mental health counselor.
When she entered the field, she knew she was doing it to help the field. It’s not about raising money for people in need.
“You learn how to adapt to life on a slightly lower salary because you really want to help people in difficult situations,” she said.
She said the condition is important now. Lawmakers increase state salaries Enable behavioral health workers to remain on-site and serve Georgia’s most vulnerable populations.
Georgia has one of the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rates in the Southeast, a concern said by Representative Todd Jones, who co-sponsored the mental health bill last year. Mental health professionals could be tempted to leave the state and seek better rates.
“Talent can move on if they see a better opportunity,” he said. “We have to keep them here.”
Another barrier to entry for behavioral health workers is the high cost of education for the degrees often required to work in the field.
Senate Bill 480, sponsored by Republican Sen. Mike Hodges, one of Kemp’s ranking leaders, would authorize medical professionals to work in mental health and substance abuse. apply to Georgia Health Labor and Welfare Commission To get funds to pay off student loans if you work with “underserved youth” or practice in underserved communities.
One of the challenges slowing down the pipeline of new action workers into the state is licensing. It can take many months for a therapist to become certified in Georgia, and they may have to repeat courses or meet additional requirements, even if they have been practicing for several years.
Several bills moving through the Legislature are designed to facilitate licensure in Georgia for marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, and social workers who have practiced professionally in other states.
Senate Bill 373The bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Larry Walker, allows marriage and family therapists to come to Georgia from other states as long as they have a valid license in the other state, are in good standing and meet a criminal background. This will allow them to obtain a license in the state. , fill out the application form, and pay the required fees.
House Bill 1344Sponsored by Republican Rep. Katie Dempsey. Georgia Complex Medical Board, which licenses many health care professionals, requires licensed professional counselors, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed marriage and family therapists to complete two years of work in another state without supervision hours. exemption from the acquisition requirements. In a similar version, Senate Bill 336I didn’t leave the room.
SB 336’s sponsor, Republican Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, said she is “optimistic that important parts of the mental health bill will actually pass.”
Similar to agreements between states to recognize each other’s driver’s licenses. House Bill 839Also sponsored by Dempsey, is an agreement between Georgia and other member states that allows clinical social workers at the bachelor’s and master’s levels to practice in those states without being individually licensed in each state. will be tied.
“There is no doubt that one of the lessons we have learned during COVID-19 is the shortage of social workers needed across the state,” Dempsey said. stated at the committee hearing.Bill to recognize counselors Practice in Georgia and counselors in Georgia in member states It passed the House last week for implementation in other states.
Trenise JohnsonThe clinical social worker and therapist said during the hearing that she started working in Louisiana and is now licensed and living in Georgia, where she operates an online telehealth business.
“This interstate compact bill will allow us to provide professional services to even more customers outside of Georgia.” she said.
but, invoice It was supposed to address international medical licensure, which has been stalled in the commission.
Ruth Cordova said she spent about $40,000 to get a degree in marriage and family therapy because the clinical psychology certification she earned in Guatemala is not recognized in Georgia.
At her internship, she is one of only two therapists who speak Spanish. Clients who are victims of human trafficking and need other treatment.
“There are many people who need multilingual therapy, but there are not enough therapists to provide it, and not everyone can go back to school,” she said.
another bill, House Bill 793The program, sponsored by Republican Rep. Matt Barton, would allow social workers to take a licensure exam during their final semester of graduate school so they can “hit the road as soon as they graduate.” Thing. He said. HB 793 passed the House and the Senate is considering the bill.
Increasing demand for mental health services and a shortage of workers are putting pressure on existing service providers. By 2022, his 46% of healthcare workers will Feeling burnt out frequently or very often, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Counselors must also take care of their own mental health. Izzard, an online mental health counselor, said a pay increase would go a long way in solving burnout.
“They’re going home and they’re exhausted,” she said. “They usually don’t have time to do anything, whether it’s working out or meditating. It contributes to stress factors.”
House Bill 455The program, sponsored by Republican Rep. John LaHood, is a safe haven where health care workers can receive treatment to combat career fatigue and burnout without fear of losing their license or having their reputations damaged. will be created. Counselors providing treatment to health care professionals, including physicians, pharmacists, nurses, or other qualified professionals, who have no reason to believe that the patient may be at risk As long as the service is not required to be reported to the licensing board.
HB455 has passed both houses And now they’re waiting for Kemp to sign.
“At a time when we are grappling with a severe workforce crisis, health care is not immune.” Mr LaHood told members: Member of the Senate Committee on Regulated Industries and Public Utilities. “We want to create a safe space and encourage doctors to go get help and stay in the game, rather than suffering in silence and compromising their ability to provide good service.”
Izard said the stakes are high for improving the demanding workload expectations placed on mental health providers.
“They’re leaving the scene because they’re burnt out,” she said. “We’re losing some really good counselors.”
