Mental Health Update
MHANYS Board Chair Karl Shallowhorn Op Ed in Today’s Buffalo News Urging Support for a 3.2% COLA
Powerful Op-Ed in today’s Buffalo News from MHANYS Board Chair, Karl Shallowhorn.
He focused on several of our agency’s priority areas—led of course by a 3.2% call for COLA. In addition, he called for a Qualified Mental Health Associate Title for Mental Health which would create a pathway to a career in mental health for paraprofessionals. He also urged the Legislature to reject language that would abolish Prescriber Prevails practices for mental health medications.
Another Voice: New York needs to hit these mental health targets in 2024
Karl Shallowhorn
Gov. Kathy Hochul just announced her proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. And while she is putting far more emphasis on mental health than her predecessors, there are several areas that need further attention.
First, more needs to be done to recruit and retain workers in the behavioral health sector. It was announced in the proposed budget that there would be a 1.5% increase in COLA (cost of living adjustment) for this group. We, at the Mental Health Association in New York State, and other advocates were asking for a 3.2% increase, which is consistent with the consumer price index. And while it may not seem to be much of a difference between the two amounts, it is substantial.
This is money that people are using to pay their living expenses and stay on pace with the costs associated with inflation. Behavioral health, like other human service industries, is facing unprecedented workforce shortages. What this translates into is longer waiting times for individuals seeking care and professionals who are strained to the limit. of what they are able to provide. We need to be able to provide access to community-based providers to mitigate this issue.
Secondly, we need a better means of recruiting individuals to enter the behavioral health workforce. One means of doing so that we have proposed is a credential for mental health professionals, Qualified Mental Health Associate – QMHA, which is on par with those found in the fields of addiction (Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor — CASAC) and developmental disabilities. (Direct Service Professional — DSP)This position would serve to bolster the mental health workforce as it would require a high school education and specialized coursework, as opposed to an advanced degree, which is commonly needed to provide treatment. This position would not infringe on the role and responsibilities of licensed clinicians and would also provide career ladders for individuals who are entering the field.
Another issue that we have advocated for many years is prescriber prevails, which allows a professional to determine, in collaboration with the patient, what is best suited for the individual, even if it means recommending a brand name versus a generic medication. This year’s proposed budget eliminated that safety net for individuals. As it currently stands, insurance companies are the ones who are making this determination. This practice is short-sighted and negates the doctor-patient relationship. which is essential for better treatment outcomes.
While we applaud Hochul for her unprecedented prioritization of mental health in her legislative agenda and proposed budget, we must continue to work with her administration and the Legislature to ensure that there is a balanced approach to the issues that affect every New Yorker’s mental health. Good mental health is vital, not only for individuals, but for our community and economy. We at MHANYS are devoted to ensuring that everyone in our state has this opportunity.
Karl Shallowhorn is board chair of the Mental Health Association in New York State.
