Urgent Mental Health Crisis: Medicaid Policies Threaten Lives
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Britt Cotton, a resident of Winnebago County, has condemned the state’s Medicaid service for slow approval times and limited access to residential mental health care. Cotton, who lost a child to suicide, criticized the program’s lengthy approval times for Family Support Program grants, which can take up to six months, and she stated that her child had been hospitalized over ten times since 2020 due to delays. However, Laura Kane of Marshmallow’s Hope suggested that significant improvements to Medicaid are imminent, with Illinois’ Department of Healthcare and Family Services stating they have pledged millions to expand services, particularly in residential care, and Governor JB Pritzker announcing plans to end “prior authorization” for insurance companies.
Obstacles in Accessing Mental Healthcare through Medicaid
Many individuals express frustration at the long turnaround times and hurdles involved in securing residential mental healthcare through Medicaid. One such individual is Britt Cotton, a parent who lost a child to suicide in 2021. After struggling to find suitable mental healthcare that accepts her state insurance, she has decided to move out of state.
Cotton shares her experience: “When you’re told that you can’t have the residential services, it doesn’t make sense as to why they would see you every week, but not for intensive treatments. This forces many on fixed income or single families to look out of state or city.”
Cotton had to resort to sending her child to Missouri for treatment, one of the few places that accept her state Medicaid. She also sought help through a Family Support Program (FSP) grant for residential mental healthcare. However, the grant process brings two major issues: it’s stressful for parents, and it comes with a lengthy approval period, which can take up to six months, according to Laura Kane from Marshmallow’s Hope.
Explore Illinois’ Efforts to Improve Mental Health Services
People requiring intensive behavioral health services can’t afford to wait months. The delays can have fatal consequences, warns Xavier Whitford, Executive Director of the Tommy Corral Foundation.
Despite these challenges, Kane sees potential improvements with Medicaid and anticipates changes to access to mental health services and faster turnaround times in the future. She has been in direct contact with state representatives and is hopeful of new initiatives being funded.
As part of its response, Illinois’ Department of Healthcare and Family Services pledged millions to expand services, especially residential care, but did not provide a specific timeline for these changes. They are focused on enhancing community-based services to stabilize youth in their homes and communities, thereby reducing dependency on residential treatment services.
Ending the ‘Prior Authorization’ Practice in Illinois
In his State of the State address on February 21, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced his intention to end the “prior authorization” practice for insurance companies. This practice requires a separate approval from doctors to prove a patient’s need for specific medical care and often leads to a delay or denial of coverage. Pritzker plans to end this practice to enable patients, especially those needing inpatient mental healthcare, to get their necessary treatment promptly, though a date for the legislation is yet to be announced.
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