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Meridian Behavioral Healthcare Visits U.S. Congress, Urges Support for Mental Health and Addictions Services

WASHINGTON DC, June 5, 2009, Representatives from Meridian Behavioral Healthcare in Gainesville, Alachua County will join nearly 350 public mental health and addictions administrators, psychiatrists, patients and community leaders from 40 states who are coming to Washington, DC June 9-10 to add their voices to the growing healthcare reform debate.

The local representatives, members of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (National Council), are meeting to ask for the resources that people with mental illnesses and addiction disorders need to live full and productive lives.

These advocates arrive in Washington DC as community mental health and addiction treatment organizations nationwide are experiencing a 20 percent surge in demand for services, according to a recent survey by the National Council. Demand is increasing and states are cutting funds reducing services, closing programs and imposing hiring freezes.

The safety net in Florida is near collapse and in dire need of stimulus, said Maggie Labarta, President/CEO of Meridian Behavioral Healthcare. The national healthcare reform agenda must include mental health and addiction services, which are vital to keeping us strong, safe and productive.

Nationwide, the economic, social and human costs of mental health and addictions disorders are staggering:

•    •   Mental illness drains our economy of more than $80 billion every year, accounting for 15 percent of the total economic burden of all disease.
•    •   Alcohol and drug abuse contributes to the death of more than 100,000 Americans and costs upwards of half a trillion dollars a year.
•    •   A quarter of all Social Security disability payments are for individuals with mental illness.

Legislators representing Florida can bring mental health and addictions treatment to the table as we discuss healthcare reform. We cannot afford to let this historic opportunity pass and we cannot let our most vulnerable citizens go without care.

To prepare for a new era of healthcare accountability while attempting to stem the escalating mortality rates of people with serious mental illnesses, Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, along with the National Council, is pursuing four initiatives:

•    1.   Mental Health and Substance-Use Disorders Included in Benefit Packages: Mental health and substance abuse benefits must be part of any nationwide healthcare reform plan, with equitable insurance coverage for mental health and addiction disorders on par with other health conditions.
•    2.   Federally Qualified Behavioral Health Centers: Create a national standard of evidence-based treatment and supports for persons with mental illnesses and addiction disorders, with reimbursement based upon the cost of delivering services.
•    3.   Co-location of Primary Care in Community Behavioral Health Organizations: Enable persons with serious mental illness to benefit from one-stop, comprehensive care for behavioral and physical conditions under one roof.
•    4.   HIT Funding: Ensure that community behavioral health organizations are eligible for any federal health information technology funding made available to help physicians, hospitals and community health centers adopt and use electronic health records.

Meridian Behavioral Healthcare’s mission is to promote recovery by offering solutions to those facing mental illnesses, addictions and other social challenges. Meridian partners with law enforcement, schools, health clinics, county government and court services and serves over 20,000 individuals per year in 11 Counties in North Central Florida.

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