One of the biggest issues facing, not only the current administration of the United States, but the rest of the citizens of the country is the outcome of the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act by the Republican party. President Trump has lead a campaign will the full intent to rid the nation of the previous administration’s attempts of a solution to healthcare. A new bill is in the works that could ultimately cut funding to many areas of health. Mental health funding decreases leave many to worry how they will navigate through an administration that will not fully fund their illnesses or regard their mental health as important.
Medicaid
Medicaid is the largest payer for mental health services in America that provides millions of citizens with coverage of their mental health or addiction issues. The newest health care bill that was created by Senate Republicans in June of 2017 stirred controversy among many mental health organizations due to the bill’s proposed cuts to Medicaid. The previous bill provided expansive funding to Medicaid programs that resulted in 1.3 million Americans with serious mental illnesses becoming insured for the first time. The Congressional Budget office has stated on record that the drafted bill would reduce Medicaid spending by 26 percent by 2026 and then by 35 percent the decade to follow.
With recent disagreements in the bill, some revisions have been made to boost some healthcare services such as new hospital beds for those who need extreme psychiatric care. This is a small step in the right direction for funding these issues but this bill is nowhere near where the mental health community would like it to be. The reason for the distress in the community is due to the fact that Medicaid acts as a safety net for many Americans who need intensive services and support.
The Solution
Some believe that the repeal and replacement of Obamacare will solve all of the issues within the healthcare system but it is more complicated when said than done. Removing the Affordable Care Act would leave millions uninsured and fending for their own in regards to mental health and other facets of health services. Many Americans felt left out of the drafting process of this bill because it was kept hidden from the public for so long. Utilizing ideas from both parties and listening to what American’s need is what is going to create a bill that best fits the health issues of everyday Americans.
43.8 million Americans experience some sort of mental illness during a given year. It is a vast amount people to ignore that their experience can not be insured or respected as a real problem.