"Half the state's adults and two-thirds of adolescents with mental illness aren't getting treatment. But new research finds that the disabled and poor could get comprehensive care," according to a new California HealthCare Foundation study.
The reason is that private insurance has historically lacked mental health coverage. This has forced patients to seek mental health care via the public system. In California alone, over $7.8 billion in public funds was spent on mental health care in fiscal year 2012-2013. $3.3 billion of that paid for Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
The ACA is expected to close some of the gaps in mental health services by improving access to many more people. In California specifically, the law will expand who is eligible for Medi-Cal (coverage for poor and disabled residents), enabling them to receive comprehensive mental health services. Additionally, individuals purchasing health insurance on Covered California will now have access to mental health care.
Healthcare Reform also encourages integration between mental health and physical health care, says Neal Adams, deputy director of the California Institute for Mental Health. This is the practice where physicians and mental health doctors coordinate the care of their patients by keeping one another informed about all aspects of the patient's health in order to provide the most comprehensive care. The goal is for doctors who see a patient for a physical check-up will also be aware of and screen for mental health status in order to coordinate care with a mental health specialist if necessary.
For interactive maps of mental health coverage in California compared to poverty levels, see Mapping the Gaps: Mental Health in California.
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