Advocacy

Studies show that 730 thousand Seniors on Medicare are at risk for opioid addiction.

Unfortunately, though, there’s a shortage of mental health and substance abuse providers in the Medicare system to help these seniors at risk.

As the baby boomer population ages, the 166,000 licensed mental health counselors across the country are specifically trained to address substance abuse.

The Mental Health Access Improvement Act would expand the availability of cost-effective providers under Medicare to help treat these Seniors and address the opioid epidemic.

MEDICARE PATIENTS SUFFER FROM INADEQUATE ACCESS TO CARE: Medicare beneficiaries are often at the highest risk for mental health problems, such as depression and suicide, yet older Americans are the least likely to receive mental health services, with only 1 in 5 receiving needed care. Many Medicare beneficiaries have no access to a mental health professional.

Mental health counselors around the nation are ready to address the needs of Medicare beneficiaries suffering from mental illness.