Obamacare will help state’s mental patients
July 17, 2013
Implementation of the Affordable Care Act will significantly augment this state’s ability to provide mental health benefits for millions of people, a new study by the nonprofit California HealthCare Foundation suggests. (Los Angeles Times)
According to details presented in the study, half of California’s adults and two-thirds of adolescents with mental problems are not currently receiving care.
The poorest regions of California also have the highest ratio and incidence of mental health issues that impact communities.
The new health law, dubbed Obamacare, is expected to fill in many of the financial gaps that exist in the California system, the study predicts.
During the last fiscal year, public money totaling $7.8 billion was spent on mental health patients because private insurance did not cover them. Of that total, $3.3 billion was spent on Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
The study also noted that more than 125,000 residents of this state who need mental health services will become eligible for Medi-Cal benefits this year.
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