Early Evidence of the Affordable Care Act’s Impact on the Medically Indigent Population Consuming Emergency Mental Health Care in Los Angeles County

Schaper, Elizabeth; Murphy, David L.; Wirshing, William C.

doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2014.14050645

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 1 publication

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In one early evaluation, Medicaid coverage of patients with psychotic disorders seen in emergency department settings more than doubled following Medicaid expansion under the ACA. 5 In addition to broadened Medicaid eligibility in participating states, increased demand for mental health services might be driven by other factors such as the inclusion of mental health benefits as essential covered services in private insurance plans; subsidies for low-and middle-income people to purchase insurance; penalties for not having health insurance; and protections for insurance access for people with preexisting mental health conditions. 6 In this context, this article provides an overview of the current adequacy of the mental health workforce to treat adults with serious mental illnesses in the United States.…”

Section: By Mark Olfsonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Building The Mental Health Workforce Capacity Needed To Treat Adults With Serious Mental Illnesses

Olfson

2016

Health Affairs

133

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

There are widespread shortages of mental health professionals in the United States, especially for the care of adults with serious mental illnesses. Such shortages are aggravated by maldistribution of mental health professionals and attractive practice opportunities treating adults with less severe conditions. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and legislation extending mental health parity coverage are contributing to an increasing demand for mental health services. I consider four policy recommendations to reinvigorate the mental health workforce to meet the rising mental health care demand by adults with serious mental illnesses: expanding loan repayment programs for mental health professionals to practice in underserved areas; raising Medicaid reimbursement for treating serious mental illness; increasing training opportunities for social workers in relevant evidence-based psychosocial services; and disseminating service models that integrate mental health specialists as consultants in general medical care. Achieving progress in attracting mental health professionals to care for adults with serious mental illnesses will require vigorous policy interventions.

show abstract

Section: By Mark Olfsonmentioning

confidence: 99%