Can't Make the Grade: Report Details State Mental Health Priorities

National Mental Health Association
Monday, 19 May 2003

Lack of Investment Puts Americans' Mental Health in Jeopardy

As states slash funding for mental health, they are putting the lives of Americans with mental health needs in jeopardy, according to an assessment report released today by the National Mental Health Association (NMHA).

"No state is adequately investing in mental health services," said Michael Faenza, NMHA president and CEO. "While our nation's policies can't seem to make the grade, the true tragedy is how we are failing millions of Americans who are left without treatment."

In the past year, 29 states cut mental health funding, and more than 35 anticipate cuts in 2004. What's more, 25 states have instituted laws or regulations that limit access to much needed medications. Overall, the nation received an alarming ‘D+' in moving toward parity for physical and mental health care coverage and a lackluster ‘C' in providing managed care protections that hold managed care companies liable for both physical and mental injuries.

Decades of research have shown that mental illnesses are real, common and that with effective treatment, recovery is possible. Yet, mental health policies do not reflect this. In just the past two years, more than half of the states have chosen to limit access to medications, and 16 states have passed laws or regulations that can limit access to medications particularly for mental health disorders.

"The progress we have made to improve our understanding of mental health would give our scientists and researchers an ‘A+', but the nation is failing to translate this knowledge into practice," noted Faenza.

NMHA's Can't Make the Grade: State Mental Health Assessment Project, the first detailed grading of key mental health services in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, found:

• Only 17 states demonstrated accountability for mental health spending and utilization under Medicaid, the rest remain silent on where the money is going and how much has been spent. Even states that appear to invest more in mental health still spend far less than is needed.
• Four states-Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, and Vermont-received an ‘A' for providing parity between mental health and physical health services, while Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming failed.
• Ten states received an ‘A' for adopting adequate managed care protections while six states failed, and three states have not passed even basic patient protection laws.

Without dramatic changes, states will continue to pay for the underfunding of badly needed mental health services in the form of emergency room visits, criminal justice costs, and inpatient care increases.
Even in a time when the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health asserts that the nation's mental health system is in ‘shambles' states continue to slash funds for mental health services and fail to make basic policy choices to ensure the health of people with mental illness.

"Despite the bleak fiscal outlook, it is essential that states increase access to effective treatment and services," said Faenza. "Now's the time to end discrimination against people with mental illness and make mental health a priority."

For a full copy of NMHA's Can't Make the Grade: State Mental Health Assessment Project, please visit www.nmha.org or call 800-969-NMHA (6642). Can't Make the Grade was made possible by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Community Voices: HealthCare for the Underserved initiative.

The National Mental Health Association is the country's oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness. With more than 340 affiliates nationwide, NMHA works to improve the mental health of all Americans through advocacy, education, research and service.

For more information, or to contact National Mental Health Association, see their website at: www.nmha.org