Long-term inpatient care is expensive. Still, it is a crucial form of medical intervention for those with psychiatric conditions or mental health problems. Significant mental health issues often have a correlation with difficulty earning money or keeping a job, which makes it difficult for those struggling with their mental health to pay for treatment.
Medicaid does cover inpatient psychiatric care, but it notoriously offers very low compensation for the hospitals and facilities. Thankfully, New York State lawmakers have taken dramatic steps to improve access to mental health care and funding for it, especially among those with the fewest resources to pay.
How has New York prioritized inpatient mental health care?
Ever since the 1980s, mental health facilities have struggled to remain open and financially solvent due to changes in the funding they receive. When they have patients that pay for their services with Medicaid, the reimbursement the facility receives may not quite cover the costs involved in providing a bed.
The state intends to allocate $49 million to help people access psychiatric care in New York. There will be an additional $27.5 million to cover a 20% increase in what Medicaid will pay per bed for care in an inpatient mental health facility. The state will spend another $9 million recruiting new staff. There is also a push to add 500 beds for individuals who are currently homeless. These changes will hopefully help more people in New York dependent on Medicaid connect with the mental health support they need.
Keeping up-to-date on Medicaid rules in New York can help those planning their estates or in need of medical care.