A new Kaiser Health News report finds those suffering from mental health problems, ranging from depression to bipolar disorder, have difficulty finding solutions.The reasons range from a shortage of psychiatrists to health insurance coverage that continues to ignore mental health.
The report noted that more than a quarter of U.S. adults have a diagnosable mental health problem. However, fewer than half of those suffering from such problems get any kind of help. Many either talk to their primary care physicians or go without care altogether, partly because of the difficulty in getting an appointment with a psychiatrist.
A survey conducted for the Tennessee Psychological Association, for example, noted that the average rate to see a psychiatrist for a non-emergency appointment was 54 days for those with private health insurance. The wait went up to 90 days for those covered by TennCare, the state's Medicaid program.
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Adding to the difficulty is the current health insurance model, which typically covers prescription drugs to treat mental illness, but may not treat coverage for therapy sessions with a mental health provider. Experts note that, as a result, there has been an over-reliance on drug therapy in recent years. This could change, however, under the Mental Health Parity Act of 2010, which requires that any offered mental health benefits should be as generous as medical and surgical benefits.
Another potential solution is to give psychologists more authority to prescribe anti-depression and psychotropic medications. They are already allowed to do so in New Mexico, Louisiana, the Indian Health Service and all branches of the military. Other states are considering regulations that would provide psychologists with more prescribing authority as well.
Physician groups and some patient advocacy groups, however, are against this type of thing, pointing out that many psychotropic drugs have serious side effects, and are better off being prescribed by those with medical training.
The KHN report added that the problem isn't going away any time soon, but is likely to become more acute as an estimated 32 million people obtain health insurance under the Affordable Care Act of 2010.
For more about this topic, access www.kaiserhealthnews.org/features/insuring-your-health/michelle-andrews-on-psychologists-prescribing-drugs.aspx?referrer=search.
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