Comments on: Mental Health Bill http://mghfcresidents.wordpress.com/2008/04/01/mental-health-bill/ The MassGeneral Hospital for Children residents and fellows Advocacy Group is sponsoring “Residents Day at the State House” April 8th Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:00:25 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Shannon Scott-Vernaglia, MD Associate Residency Director http://mghfcresidents.wordpress.com/2008/04/01/mental-health-bill/#comment-8 Shannon Scott-Vernaglia, MD Associate Residency Director Thu, 03 Apr 2008 01:38:21 +0000 http://mghfcresidents.wordpress.com/?p=8#comment-8 Mental health coverage for the young is critically important. I am faced with patients regularly who struggle to get the healthcare they need. For those with insurance, the waits are tremendous and for those without (or with coverage that limits mental health benefits) they often go without or their parents take on significant financial risks to get them care. The MCPAP-Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project (http://mcpap.typepad.com/) has offered some much needed relief but it is not enough. We must get more coverage for childhood mental health and increase reimbursement in order to encourage more mental health providers to train to take care of children. Mental health coverage for the young is critically important. I am faced with patients regularly who struggle to get the healthcare they need. For those with insurance, the waits are tremendous and for those without (or with coverage that limits mental health benefits) they often go without or their parents take on significant financial risks to get them care.

The MCPAP-Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project (http://mcpap.typepad.com/) has offered some much needed relief but it is not enough. We must get more coverage for childhood mental health and increase reimbursement in order to encourage more mental health providers to train to take care of children.

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