Politicians and legislators have long been ignored Mental illness and its treatment. out of 14 candidate Just run for president in 2024 One The official campaign website specifically mentions improving mental health care.
Healthcare needs will continue ignored:in spite of undulation self-reported levels of anxiety and depression, and more acceptance In the midst of mental struggles post-COVID-19, many people seeking treatment are finding the following: Obstacle. A limited number of providers, location disparities, limited insurance coverage, and the overall high cost of treatment are all barriers people face in accessing mental health care.
Given the high number of people who report struggling with mental health conditions, state and federal governments need to make this treatment a top priority and work to combat barriers put up by insurance companies.
a poll A survey conducted in October by the National Alliance on Mental Health found that 61% of Americans feel Congress is not doing enough to address mental health needs, and 64% say the issue is a problem that requires more federal funding. It turns out that I think this should be a top priority. Additionally, 86% believe all elected officials need to do more to improve mental health care in the United States.
Politicians overlook disparities in mental health care and lack of access to treatment stay high: Research from mental health america In 2023, 42% of adults with some form of mental illness were unable to access the care they need due to cost barriers.
People want to receive therapy and psychiatric services, but because of the rising prices, they don't consider it an option.
Despite the Mental Health Equality Act and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) requires insurance companies to cover behavioral health services, but there are still many limitations and barriers to mental health care.the insurance company found loophole To reduce the amount of care and access to mental health services: have There are few eligibility criteria for in-network providers or intensive care.
Furthermore, due to the following reasons: Low insurance reimbursement rate, Many therapists and psychiatrists do not take insurance from their patients. If the customer pays out of pocket, he can almost earn twice the amount. This limits the number of providers available and even more difficult Finding psychologists who take Medicare compared to psychologists who take private insurance.
Insurance companies too please do not refund and mental health care providers, such as social workers and psychiatrists, at the same rate as other health care providers. Inadequacy of insurance companies is contributing to the lack of accessibility people face in the post-pandemic world. The federal government needs to hold insurance companies accountable by passing legislation that prohibits insurance company discrepancies.
According to research lack of access The root cause of the “mental health crisis” in the United States is not just that more people are experiencing these problems, but because too few people are getting the health care they want and need.
Recently, several steps have been taken to address treatment and insurance barriers.president joe biden proposed a rule Crack down on insurance companies through the MHPAEA, which includes requiring insurance companies to provide equal access to mental and physical health care. A group of senators also mental health caucus During October.
Still, no legislation has yet been enacted to make mental health care more accessible and affordable. Moreover, if the next president in 2024 does not recognize the importance of mental health, the potential for changes Biden proposes could be limited.
Real changes in insurance and care disparities are needed to minimize the many obstacles to advancing mental health care. Working on this issue on behalf of policymakers will increase the chances that people will get the health care they need.
