Unfairly Limited: A Million Medicaid Enrollees Face Barriers to Mental Health and Addiction Treatment

Millions of Americans enrolled in Medicaid may face barriers when trying to access mental health and addiction treatment services, according to a recent report from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General. The report reviewed eight states – Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, and Texas – and found that these states were not in compliance with laws that mandate Medicaid managed care plans to provide coverage for mental health and substance use disorder services that are no more restrictive than coverage for other medical or surgical benefits.

Individuals seeking mental health or addiction treatment services through Medicaid may be unfairly limited in their access to these essential services due to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act not being upheld by these states. This means that individuals struggling with mental health and addiction issues may be denied the care they need to recover.

Ensuring that individuals have access to mental health and addiction treatment services is crucial for their overall well-being and recovery. It is important for states and Medicaid managed care plans to comply with federal laws and provide equal coverage for mental health and substance use disorder services to ensure that individuals receive the care they need. Failure to do so can result in negative consequences for individuals struggling with mental health and addiction issues.