We are about?forty-eight hours past the mid-term election results, and already the Republican leadership have come together to vow that they will repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), better known by its moniker, Obamacare. The Republican led House has voted over 50 times to repeal health care since it was signed into law, despite the?fact that the majority of Americans have embraced it.
Not only would a repeal of the ACA effect millions of American’s across the board, it would strike a blow to the already minimal improvements Mental Healthcare in this country has undergone.
The ACA has taken mental health and brought it into the fold with preventative medicine and surgical care. Plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace are required to cover not only Mental Health but substance use disorders as well. Coupled with the Mental Health Parity, Addiction Equity, and Federal Parity; these benefits have gone on to help an estimated 62 million Americans.
One of the greatest points within the ACA began this year; Now most plans will not be allowed to deny coverage or increase rates due to pre-existing health conditions, and that includes Mental Illnesses. With medical costs within the United States becoming an increasing concern, this is monumental.
Still, the GOP marches on, demanding that this law, which?has helped millions of their own constituents, be repealed.
“It also means renewing our commitment to repeal ObamaCare, which is hurting the job market along with Americans? health care.?
That is a quote from the op-ed published Wednesday evening from Mitch McConnell and John Boehner. The ACA’s affect on jobs is simple. The law has helped create more jobs in the public sector along with the healthcare system; and has opened up jobs to include?benefits to employees who, prior to the law, didn’t have access.
So what would happen to Mental Health Services if congress were to somehow repeal the ACA:
- We would see free screenings for children and adults halt, which would limit the amount of people getting the right help they need. Prior to the ACA, getting my son in for just the screening for Autism cost me $100 up front out of pocket. To my family that is a lot of saving that had to happen, for just one appointment that may or may not lead to a multitude of follow-up appointments. Having free screenings is crucial for patients to have access to the services they need.
- Coverage for Outpatient Therapy, Inpatient Crisis Intervention, and Stabilization would be eliminated for up to a third of all Americans. Mental Health requires constant follow-up and monitoring. It can not, and should not, be treated like a headache or a sprained wrist. Outpatient Therapy sessions are extremely expensive and those costs are the leading factor for poor follow-up.
- The Federal Parity law would not apply to any plans left offering these services. This law ensures that the coverage for mental health disorders is proportionate to those of preventative health and surgical care. Without this law we will see plans that offer the bare minimum for mental health coverage.
Our system, as well as our society, has a poor grasp on mental health; taking away these steps under the ACA?will damage us further. We have to come together and really embrace that mental health is extremely important to preventative health and surgical care. Without access we will see more children falling through the cracks; and as a result, more adults struggling with mental illness in a world not accepting of them.
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