When House Republicans voted in the wee hours of the morning of May 22 to cut approximately $700 billion from Medicaid, they moved one step closer to rendering dangerously vulnerable the millions of Medicaid recipients struggling with mental illness and substance use disorder.
Medicaid, which covers more than 72 million Americans, is the single largest payer of behavioral health services, which includes mental health and substance use disorder treatment. As the United States works to destigmatize mental health and its treatment, it becomes even more important to ensure that people have the means to access needed care.
Some Americans’ unmet mental health needs can be attributed to the mental health workforce shortage, which makes it harder to find a provider in a timely manner. But health insurance plays a critical role, especially in the communities where residents most commonly struggle with these conditions.
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