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Mental Health Services: Infrastructure, Funding and Reimbursement
The mental health system has long been neglected and under-funded, resulting in too many adults and
children with mental illnesses getting treatment only after tragic and costly consequences that could be
avoided-- multiple health complications, criminal justice involvement, homelessness, high unemployment
and school dropout rates and an increase in the number of suicides. Given the large budget deficit, it is
important to underscore that mental health services are not just an expense, they are an investment that helps
offset other costs to the state budget and society.
Today, there is more understanding of the problem and recognition of the potential of improving access to
services. We know that treatment is effective-- and children and adults get better. The Governor,
Legislature, Congress and private health plans are paying attention to the needs of children and adults with
mental illnesses. State appropriations for mental health leverage matching Federal matching funds and are
mixed with private payments to support a variety of hospital and community-based services. The 2007
Mental Health Initiative contained unprecedented funding for mental health care of three types:
• A common benefit set of comprehensive coverage
• Infrastructure grants: to develop new services and best practices
• Increased reimbursement rates: for ‘critical access’ community providers
It is critical to maintain these investments in this legislative session and beyond.
A common comprehensive mental health benefit set was approved, so the same services are covered
in all publicly funded health programs. Services added include,
 Assertive Community Treatment teams
• Intensive Residential Treatment Services
 Adult Mental Health Rehabilitation Services
 Others proven to be effective in treating people with mental illness.
Infrastructure investments helped start-up new service programs:
 Crisis Services: mobile crisis teams, expanded hours, rapid access to psychiatry, stabilization
beds, and public education are now in 87 counties for adults and 58 counties for children;
 Special Treatment Needs for adults and children who are victims of trauma, abuse or neglect,
veterans and their families, and refugees, and those with complex treatment needs;
 Housing Options: 22 projects provide housing with services those with serious mental illness:
 Respite Care Services for families of children with mental illnesses who are at-risk for out-ofhome placement were funded in 42 counties;
 Mental Health Services for adults and children of cultural and ethnic minorities and help for
members of those groups become qualified mental health professionals and practitioners;
 School-linked Mental Health Services include 17 grants to community providers working with
45 counties and 59 school districts.
Infrastructure investments helped strengthen and improve developing programs:
 Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) for police officers
 Assertive Community Treatment Teams
 Evidence-based practices (dual diagnosis treatment, illness management and recovery)
 Suicide prevention for older adults
 Dialectical behavior therapy
 Peer specialists.
Reimbursement rate increases helped ‘critical access mental health providers’ to hire staff and
improve quality and access to psychiatry, therapists, counselors, nurses, and community workers.
These investments are taking hold in communities. We urge legislators to maintain grants and provider
rates. In times of economic hardship, the need for mental health services increase – not decrease.