Today, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) spoke at a House Appropriations hearing on mental health.
You can view the full video on YOUTUBE, TWITTER, FACEBOOK
In the hearing Fleischmann noted concerning statistics regarding mental health in America:
"The Covid-19 pandemic is having a significant negative impact on the behavioral health of Americans. A recent report found that symptoms of anxiety disorder are approximately 3x higher, prevalence of depression about 4x higher, and overdoses are reportedly up almost 18% among adults compared to the same time last year.
Even before the current public health emergency, the incidence of serious mental illness had increased significantly from 2018 to 2019. Suicide rates have continued to increase, up 35% between 1999 and 2018, and drug overdose deaths climbed to a record high again last year."
Fleischmann went on to note that Medicare limits beneficiaries to only 190 days of inpatient care in a psychiatric hospital in their lifetime:
"The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act was enacted in 2008 and requires insurance coverage for mental health conditions, including substance use disorders, to be no more restrictive than insurance coverage for other medical conditions. Yet, the Medicare program limits beneficiaries to only 190 days of inpatient care in a psychiatric hospital in their lifetime.
People with serious mental illness may easily go over Medicare's 190-day limit during their lifetime, especially if they gain Medicare coverage at a younger age. When people with mental illness cannot receive care in the right setting, they can end up in hospital emergency rooms, in jail, or on the streets."
Fleischmann's Question:
"Dr. Evans, do you believe Congress and CMS should reconsider the 190-day cap on inpatient psychiatric services, and if so, what would that do for Medicare patient care, specifically in light of the Covid-19 pandemic?"
Original source can be found here.
