of the Texas House of Representatives Public Health Commission This week, we held a public health-focused hearing to solicit comments on how we can strengthen Texas’s health care workforce and address rural health care challenges.
As Executive Director of the National Mental Illness Alliance (NAMI) Texas, I would like to address the importance of access to mental health care for people in rural Texas and highlight Medicaid Managed Care, a resource that is already addressing this challenge. I think.
At the end of 2020, NAMI reported that one in five adults experienced some form of mental illness each year.according to mental health texasIn Texas, more than 3.3 million adults are living with a mental illness. The conversation around mental health and behavioral disorders is changing as our world changes and we emerge from a global pandemic.In 2022, addressing mental health, especially among young people, is more important than ever. .
However, according to Rural Health Information HubNearly 3 million people live in rural Texas, but 28% of the state’s counties don’t have a single hospital. Access to care is critical when it comes to treating mental health conditions. By increasing regular doctor visits, adjusting care plans, and incorporating new strategies such as telemedicine, Medicaid Managed Care addresses the challenges rural Texas faces in accessing care. I’m here.
Serious mental health conditions can be managed, but routine, quality care plays an important role in achieving outcomes. When it comes to diagnosis, as with many medical conditions, the sooner the better: Children receiving Medicaid-managed care are likely to receive more consistent care than those without insurance, she said. 4 times higher. When children are diagnosed early, care plans can be developed and evaluated before their illness or condition worsens.
Mental illness can be treated, but continued care is important, especially in more serious cases. Rural clinics, supported by Medicaid Managed Care, work to fill gaps in care that rural Texans often feel.These clinics are available for routine or emergency mental health services. and is essential for keeping patients on their care plan. Medicaid-managed care and regular treatment for mental health conditions can prevent costly psychiatric admissions, emergency room visits, and possibly criminal intervention.
Mental illness is a complex condition and often requires a team of specialists to treat. Medicaid Managed Care’s coordinated care approach ensures communication within the care team to provide the best possible care. This approach also reduces patient stress and anxiety, which may worsen the patient’s condition and exacerbate symptoms. For anyone on a treatment plan that includes medication, it is imperative that the individual adheres to that care plan.
Medicaid managed care is adapting and evolving to meet society’s changing approaches to healthcare. In an increasingly virtual world, Medicaid Managed Care is expanding access to telemedicine, allowing patients to connect with their healthcare providers via phone and video calls for routine care. Especially when a patient needs to see a specialist, telemedicine allows them to get the care they need without traveling hours to the nearest health care provider.
While working in the mental health department here in Texas, I have seen all parts of the state and have learned that Medicaid managed care is especially important for rural Americans experiencing mental health struggles. As the Texas House Public Health Committee meets Wednesday to assess ongoing challenges in the local health care system, NAMI Texas asked lawmakers to address the state’s vulnerable populations, especially those with mental illness. We are calling for enhanced Medicaid-managed care to protect those who are in need.
Greg Hansch is Executive Director of the Texas National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMI Texas is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose purpose is to improve the lives of people suffering from mental illness through education, support and advocacy.
