Module 2- Critical Thinking

As much success as human rights campaigns have seen in recent history, there is still much more that needs to be done to ensure that the basic human rights of all individuals are granted and ensured. Both discriminated and stigmatized, individuals suffering from any kind of mental illness have seen little support through federal policy. A large piece of this discrimination is related to Medicaid laws and treatment. Current Medicare laws dictate the length of stay in a psychiatric setting an individual may obtain, despite what may be medically or clinically necessary. In doing so, individuals with mental illness are forced to cope with their disorders often without proper treatment.

In addition to shortened stays, shortage of federal funds has also closed down several psychiatric hospitals. Therefore, not only is the quantity of an individual’s stay compromised, but the quality is as well. Basically, there are very few options for individuals with Medicaid or the underinsured.

Private insurances offer more to individuals with mental illness. Following the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies are mandated to provide equal physical and mental health coverage.

So where does this leave Medicaid consumers? Clearly they are being discriminated against for not only their income, but their mental health status as well. Individuals with other treatable diseases such as asthma or diabetes rarely, if ever, receive this kind of discrimination. So why must policy treat mental illness so differently?

USA Today published a fantastic article about this exact subject highlighting the experience of those suffering from mental illness. 

http://www.usatoday.com/longform/news/nation/2014/06/25/stigma-of-mental-illness/9875351/