Senior Citizens Could See Better Access to Mental
Health Care in Reform Legislation
American Psychological Association applauds
Kennedy, Ros-Lehtinens Positive Aging Act Of 2009
July
27, 2009 One potential benefit for senior
citizens in health care reform legislation could be improved access to
quality mental health care, according to the American Psychological
Association. The group has lauded U.S. Representatives Patrick Kennedy
(D-RI) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) for introducing the Positive Aging
Act of 2009.
In 2008, there were barely 7,000 geriatricians to
treat 38 million seniors; in 2006-2007 just 253 physicians were enrolled
in geriatric medicine fellowships
By
Howard Gleckman, Senior Research Associate at the Urban Institute
APA said in a news release that it continues to
advocate for the inclusion of the Positive Aging Act in health-care
reform, as this legislation would enhance access to services and improve
the quality of care for older adults by integrating mental health
services into primary care and community settings.
The bill would basically integrate mental health
services into care and community settings where seniors reside and
receive services.
The Positive Aging Act of 2009 will amend the
Public Health Service Act to authorize the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration to:
● Support demonstration projects to promote
integration of mental health services in primary care settings;
● support grants for community-based mental
health treatment outreach teams;
● designate a deputy director for Older Adult
Mental Health Services in the Center for Mental Health Services;
● include representatives of older Americans or
their families and geriatric mental health professionals on the Advisory
Council for the Center for Mental Health Services;
● include targeting substance abuse in older
adults in projects of national significance; and
● require state plans under Community Mental
Health Services Block Grants to include descriptions of the states'
outreach to and services for older individuals.
This bill, which Kennedy first introduced in 2002,
reflects a strong bipartisan effort on behalf of our nation's older
adults and has been a longstanding legislative priority for APA,
according to the groups news release.
"The interdisciplinary integrated health care model
at the heart of this legislation will go a long way toward meeting the
mental and behavioral health needs of our nation's growing population of
older adults," said Norman B. Anderson, Ph.D., APA's chief executive
officer
"By supporting collaboration between mental health
providers and colleagues in primary care and community settings, we can
improve access to quality mental health care for seniors whose mental
health needs might otherwise go unmet."
An estimated 20 percent of older adults in the
United States have a mental health problem, and up to two-thirds of
these individuals do not receive the services they need.
Left untreated, mental disorders can have
significant consequences, including increases in disease, disability and
mortality.
In fact, men age 85 and older have the highest
rates of suicide in our country and depression is the foremost risk
factor.
Evidence suggests that up to 75 percent of older
adults who commit suicide have visited a primary care professional
within 30 days of their death.
Although effective treatments exist, the mental
health needs of many older Americans go unrecognized and untreated
because of separation and fragmentation of physical and mental health in
traditional health care settings.
The American Psychological Association, in
Washington, D.C., is the largest scientific and professional
organization representing psychology in the United States and is the
world's largest association of psychologists. APA's membership includes
more than 150,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and
students. Through its divisions in 54 subfields of psychology and
affiliations with 60 state, territorial and Canadian provincial
associations, APA works to advance psychology as a science, as a
profession and as a means of promoting health, education and human
welfare.
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
July
27, 2009 One potential benefit for senior
citizens in health care reform legislation could be improved access to
quality mental health care, according to the American Psychological
Association. The group has lauded U.S. Representatives Patrick Kennedy
(D-RI) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) for introducing the Positive Aging
Act of 2009.
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