According to Turnbridge, a provider of mental health and diagnosis treatment programs, “In the United States, over half (54 percent) of adults do not receive treatment for their mental illness.” Untreated mental illness can lead to unemployment, homelessness, suicide, unnecessary disability, and poor quality of life. Unfortunately, there is currently a shortage of mental health services and professionals, which can lead to worsening symptoms. To help people get what they need, Congress should pass a law to increase insurance payments for mental health services and make insurance agencies improve their coverage of telehealth.
One hundred sixty million people in the United States live in areas with a shortage of mental health professionals. Not being able to get therapy when you need it can increase stress, hopelessness, and even suicide attempts. According to Young Adult Mental Health Stories From Across the Nation, Gabriela in California said, “I have dealt with mental health issues as a mother, such as postpartum depression and anxiety. My symptoms carried on further after, and I had a hard time with my insurance receiving therapy. I was told that if I didn’t have the desire to end my life, then I didn’t need 1:1 therapy.” But the earlier she got help, the less likely she would be to commit suicide. As we see from the website Young Invincibles, “Among adults in 2015 who had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year, more than half did not receive any mental health services in the past year, and about 1 in 8 perceived a need for mental health care but did not obtain care.” It is extremely upsetting that people considering suicide did not receive mental health support. This shows the extreme danger that people can find themselves in when they can’t access mental health care.
According to California State University, one of the reasons people aren’t getting help is the shortage of available mental health professionals. This is caused in part by low reimbursement rates from insurance companies. Congress can pass a law to increase payment for these services so more people can access them regardless of their income. As we can see from a plan from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a federal agency that provides healthcare to the underinsured, “Through the implementation of legislation, CMS will increase the value of psychotherapy for crisis services to pay 150% of the usual Physician Fee Schedule rate when…. crisis care is provided outside of healthcare settings, which better reflects the costs that behavioral health practitioners incur to provide these services.” This increased funding would enable more providers to offer crisis care, which would result in more people discussing their problems and learning coping skills at a tough time.
Another step that would increase the number of available mental health professionals would be for insurance agencies to improve coverage of telehealth. According to KFF, an organization focused on health policies, “Telehealth has played a particularly significant role in meeting the need for mental health services. During the pandemic, some private payers have improved coverage for mental health and substance use, removing pre-pandemic restrictions on coverage for these services via telehealth.” So, even if you live in a place with a shortage of services and professionals, you can use telehealth to connect with a professional. That is why Congress should mandate that insurance agencies improve telehealth coverage.
As indicated, a lack of mental health professionals and services can lead to worsening symptoms, such as people feeling stressed and helpless or committing suicide. Therefore, Congress should pass a law to make insurance companies increase payment for mental health services and improve coverage of telehealth. Good mental health care enables people to cope with stress, work well, and contribute to their community. I want my friends and other people in my community to feel happy and satisfied with life.
