The Senate Finance Committee in September 2009 amended its version of health reform legislation to partially roll back current Medicaid policy prohibiting reimbursement to inpatient facilities known as institutes of mental disease (IMD).
The amendment, filed by Sen. Olympia Snowe, allotted $75 million for three-year demonstration projects in up to eight states that would allow federal Medicaid matching payments for emergency psychiatric treatment in psychiatric hospitals that provide services to Medicaid beneficiaries between the ages of 21 and 64.
Currently, psychiatric hospitals are required to provide these emergency services under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, but they cannot receive federal matching payments because of the rules prohibiting IMDs from receiving federal Medicaid reimbursement.
Only privately owned and operated psychiatric hospitals would be eligible to participate in the demonstration projects. The services eligible for federal payments under the demonstration projects are limited to emergency psychiatric treatment and stabilization.
The crisis stabilization unit is in effect an emergency room for psychiatry, frequently dealing with suicidal, violent, or otherwise critical individuals. Laws in many jurisdictions providing for long term involuntary commitment require a commitment order issued by a judge within a short time, after 72 hours, the evaluation period, of the patient's entry to the unit, if the patient does not or is unable to consent
Mental hospitals, also known as psychiatric hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their goals and methods. Some hospitals may specialize only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients. While others may specialize in the temporary or permanent care of residents who as a result of a psychological disorder, require routine long term assistance and treatment in a specialized and controlled environment.
These types of institutions vary widely in side, shape, focus, and funding. Some focus on long term care, while others are set up for criminals who have been diagnosed with a mental condition.
Every state within the United States of America has at least one publicly funded mental hospital and many states contain at least one mental hospital that is privately funded. While the funding for these hospitals may be different, both public state hospitals and private mental hospitals both use the same techniques in helping their patients.
This one step ahead toward repealing the old, outdated Medicaid law that is discriminating against mentally ill people. With this there needs to be reform and a total abolishment of the law which prohibits Medicaid beneficiaries to receive the health care they need.
While no one can predict the future this amendment shows the day of deinstititulization even if well intentioned people thought they were working for the benefit of the patient. Some people need long term or permanent mental health care; it is a fact of life.
Whether it because of noncompliance; inability to adhere to a treatment plan; or just plain non response to medication there has to be a place for the mentally ill beside33s the streets, shelters, and jail cells.
Whether it because of noncompliance; inability to adhere to a treatment plan; or just plain non response to medication there has to be a place for the mentally ill beside33s the streets, shelters, and jail cells.
