03-10-2011, 11:32 AM
States have eliminated $1.8 billion from mental-health services over past two years.
USA Today (3/9, Terbush) reports, "Since 2009, state legislatures have cut $1.8 billion in non-Medicaid mental health spending," according to a report released today by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). The report says that "vital services cut include community- and hospital-based psychiatric care, inpatient housing, and access to medications for tens of thousands of adults and children living with serious mental illnesses." Even "deeper cuts are projected for 2011 and 2012."
The AP (3/9) reports that the cuts are "putting the public at risk as the mentally ill crowd emergency rooms and prisons, according to" the "nation's largest mental health advocacy group." NAMI "tallied state budget cuts to mental health services between 2008 and today and found that 32 states and Washington, DC, cut funding just as economic stressors such as layoffs and home foreclosures boosted demand for services."
The Columbus Dispatch (3/9, Candisky) reports, "Medicaid is one of the largest sources of state support for mental-health services." However, "the report cautions that services for Medicaid patients could be at risk as additional support provided under the federal stimulus program will expire in June." The report went on to point out that "public safety also is at greater risk because those living with mental illness can be more violent," as evidenced by the recent shootings in Arizona.
Focusing on the local impact of budget cuts to mental health services, the Kansas City Star (3/9, Lambe) reports that "Kansas is among the top 10 states in such cuts," according to the NAMI report. The state "has cut almost $19 million, or about 16 percent of money for mental health care for the uninsured or those not covered by Medicaid," ranking it number seven. "Kentucky ranked first with cuts of almost $194 million, or about 48 percent."
USA Today (3/9, Terbush) reports, "Since 2009, state legislatures have cut $1.8 billion in non-Medicaid mental health spending," according to a report released today by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). The report says that "vital services cut include community- and hospital-based psychiatric care, inpatient housing, and access to medications for tens of thousands of adults and children living with serious mental illnesses." Even "deeper cuts are projected for 2011 and 2012."
The AP (3/9) reports that the cuts are "putting the public at risk as the mentally ill crowd emergency rooms and prisons, according to" the "nation's largest mental health advocacy group." NAMI "tallied state budget cuts to mental health services between 2008 and today and found that 32 states and Washington, DC, cut funding just as economic stressors such as layoffs and home foreclosures boosted demand for services."
The Columbus Dispatch (3/9, Candisky) reports, "Medicaid is one of the largest sources of state support for mental-health services." However, "the report cautions that services for Medicaid patients could be at risk as additional support provided under the federal stimulus program will expire in June." The report went on to point out that "public safety also is at greater risk because those living with mental illness can be more violent," as evidenced by the recent shootings in Arizona.
Focusing on the local impact of budget cuts to mental health services, the Kansas City Star (3/9, Lambe) reports that "Kansas is among the top 10 states in such cuts," according to the NAMI report. The state "has cut almost $19 million, or about 16 percent of money for mental health care for the uninsured or those not covered by Medicaid," ranking it number seven. "Kentucky ranked first with cuts of almost $194 million, or about 48 percent."