The proposed Budget Reconciliation Act if passed as is will have a huge negative impact on behavioral health. An already underfunded and overwhelmed behavioral health system will face even more cuts. Rates of suicide completion, overdose deaths, homelessness and incarceration will sadly increase. This cannot happen…Mental health issues do not discriminate across party lines. In the many years I have worked in this field, I have seen empathetic voices on all sides.
In that spirit, the Behavioral Health Advocacy Group have compiled some important data that breaks down the Medicaid impact of each of the seven Republican Congressional districts in New York. We have created easy to read infographics that talk about the number of people on Medicaid in each of these districts and the financial impact of proposed cuts. In addition, we quantify all the mental health and substance use providers and programs in each of these districts.
Not only are not for profits the final safety net for individuals but we are also economic drivers. These infographics for each district make this perfectly clear and estimate the devastation that will occur if these cuts happen.
