BOSTON (AP) — Gov.-elect Charlie Baker should move quickly after taking office to address issues surrounding mental health treatment, including disparities between insurance payment rates for behavioral health and other medical services, an advocacy group said yesterday.
The Massachusetts chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness unveiled several recommendations for the first 100 days of Baker’s administration. His inauguration is Jan. 8.
The advocates cited federal statistics that show mental illness affects more than one in five adults in the U.S. and said a survey it conducted of Massachusetts voters in July revealed dissatisfaction with what state government was doing to help those suffering from mental health or addiction issues.
“It’s clear from the survey that voters want action on the issue,” Laurie Martinelli, executive director of the Massachusetts chapter, said in a statement. “Our hope is the next administration deeply commits to dramatic improvement in the area of mental health.”
The group recommended that Baker, a Republican who formerly headed Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, should work with other state officials to bridge gaps in what private and public insurers reimburse for mental health treatment as opposed to other types of medical treatments.
Baker’s first state budget proposal should outline priorities for mental health and addiction services and provide adequate funding to achieve those goals, the group said, adding the incoming governor must also take steps to end what it called the “over-incarceration” of people with mental illness.
Baker served as the state secretary of Health and Human Services in the 1990s, helping lead a drive to close some of the state’s antiquated mental health institutions and move many patients into community-based programs.
His Democratic opponent in the campaign, Attorney General Martha Coakley, criticized him for privatizing some treatment services, leading to layoffs of hundreds of state mental health workers and longer waits for treatment for some patients.
