Financing Care

Persons with serious mental illnesses are much more likely to have government-sponsored insurance, such as Medicaid and Medicare, compared to persons with general medical conditions. Often, state, city, or county government programs are needed to close gaps in services funding. Learning to navigate the health care financing system to access needed treatment and rehabilitative services is an essential part of a public psychiatrist’s work, and psychiatrists have a valuable role in advocating for better access to care. The pieces of the complex financing puzzle come together to provide, at the very least, a safety net and, at optimum, a high-quality delivery system that promotes resilience, recovery, and well-being.