PRESS RELEASE February 26, 2014 Contact: Joel Miller

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1 PRESS RELEASE February 26, 2014 Contact: Joel Miller Over 58,000 Uninsured People with Mental Illness in Idaho Will Be Denied Health Insurance Because State Officials Refuse to Participate in the New Medicaid Expansion Program Vulnerable Group Represents over 58 Percent of all Idaho Citizens Eligible for Coverage under the Medicaid Expansion ***** Boise, ID A new groundbreaking study shows that 58,000 Idaho citizens are uninsured with a mental health condition, but eligible for health insurance under the New Medicaid Expansion Program. Unfortunately, Idaho policymakers have refused to participate in the new health insurance initiative. Many of the eligible individuals have severe mental health conditions and currently have no coverage through any public or private health plan, but will be denied the opportunity to obtain coverage for treatment if Idaho refuses to participate in the expansion. The lack of coverage will deny people with mental illness affordable care. The comprehensive study Dashed Hopes, Broken Promises, More Despair: How the Lack of State Participation in the Medicaid Expansion Will Punish Americans with Mental Illness, released by the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) shows that 98,000 uninsured people in the state are currently eligible for coverage under the Medicaid Expansion that went into effect on January 1, But these individuals will not receive coverage due to Idaho s antagonism toward the Medicaid Expansion initiative embodied in the Affordable Care Act. Key findings from the AMHCA report include: Over 58,000 Idaho citizens who have a serious mental illness, a serious psychological distress condition, or who have a substance use disorder, are eligible for health insurance coverage through the New Medicaid Expansion Program, but the state has rejected participation in the coverage initiative. This group represents a whopping 58 percent of all uninsured people who would be eligible for coverage under the Medicaid Expansion in Idaho (98,000 people). Since officials in Idaho have said they will not participate in the initiative, they are therefore leaving their most vulnerable citizens without health insurance, even though the federal government will pay for it at 100 percent for the first three years; slowly tapering off to 90 percent in 2020 and thereafter.

2 According to an independent analysis conducted by the Idaho Hospital Association, if state policymakers opt in to the Medicaid Expansion right now, it will add $717 million in increased payroll /per year between 2014 and The new initiative also would add 16,500 new jobs during this period. All of this increased economic activity will be lost unless the state participates in the New Medicaid health insurance expansion. States expanding Medicaid will have enhanced capacity to meet the needs of millions of previously uninsured people with mental illness. Idaho will be further left behind as those states that do expand Medicaid, will see an influx of new federal monies to shore up their mental health systems. The funds for the Medicaid Expansion for all 50 states are already included in the federal budget. Idaho has witnessed ruinous cuts to the state public mental health system since 2000, which have essentially dismantled the public system. If the state does not participate in the Medicaid Expansion, many uninsured people with a mental health condition will continue to be left out in the coverage cold. The burden of mental illness is incredibly high due to increasing numbers of uninsured people with mental health conditions. The lack of health insurance coverage keeps people with mental illness from obtaining needed services and treatments and follow-up care that lead to achieving long-term recovery and improving their quality of life, said Joel E. Miller, Executive Director and CEO of AMHCA and author of the Dashed Hopes report. Health insurance is the passkey to good, timely health care services, and state policymakers in 25 states are locking people out of the system. If states do not participate in the New Medicaid Expansion Program, millions of people with a mental health condition will see their hopes of a healthier and better life dashed when they learn during the enrollment process that they will not be able obtain health insurance many with mental illnesses, said Judith Bertenthal Smith, AMHCA s President. Please click here to download the report Joel Miller, AMHCA Executive Director and CEO, is available for interviews. ***** The American Mental Health Counselors Association works to enhance the profession of mental health counseling through advocacy, education, licensure, and professional development. AMHCA 801 N. Fairfax Street Alexandria, VA,

3 Fact Sheet Number of Uninsured Adults in Idaho with Serious Mental Health Conditions Eligible for Health Insurance under the New Medicaid Expansion Program and other Insurance Programs. Data from the AMHCA Report: Dashed Hopes; Broken Promises; More Despair: How the Lack of State Participation in the New Medicaid Expansion Program Punishes Americans with Mental Illness February 2014

4 Number of Uninsured People Ages in Idaho with a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) Eligible for Health Insurance under the New Medicaid Expansion Program and the New State Health Insurance Exchange in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and Eligible for Coverage under the Current Medicaid Program 1. Nearly 13,500 individuals (13,130) who are uninsured in Idaho (not covered by a public or disorder, major depression) are eligible for health insurance coverage under the New Medicaid Expansion Program in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 2. Nearly 13,000 (13,084) individuals who are uninsured in Idaho (not covered by a public or disorder, major depression) are eligible for health insurance coverage under the New State Health Insurance Exchange (online marketplace) in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 3. Nearly 26,500 (26,215) individuals who are uninsured in Idaho (not covered by a public or disorder, major depression) are eligible for health insurance coverage under the New Medicaid Expansion Program and the New State Health Insurance Exchange in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 4. Nearly 8,500 (8,364) individuals who are uninsured in Idaho (not covered by a public or disorder, major depression) are eligible for health insurance coverage under the Current State Medicaid Program already operating in the state and in place prior to the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 5. Nearly 35,000 (34,579) individuals who are uninsured in Idaho (not covered by a public or disorder, major depression) are eligible for health insurance coverage under the New Medicaid Expansion Program and the New State Health Insurance Exchange in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and eligible for coverage under the Current State Medicaid Program. 4

5 Number of Uninsured People Ages in Idaho with Serious Psychological Distress (SPD) Eligible for Health Insurance under the New Medicaid Expansion Program and the New State Health Insurance Exchange in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and Eligible for Coverage under the Current Medicaid Program 1. Nearly 22,500 adults (22,410) who are uninsured in Idaho (not covered by a public or private or mood disorders) are eligible for health insurance coverage under the New Medicaid Expansion Program in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 2. Nearly 21,000 (20,708) adults who are uninsured in Idaho (not covered by a public or private or mood disorders) are eligible for health insurance coverage under the New State Health Insurance Exchange (online marketplace) in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 3. Nearly 43,500 (43,119) adults who are uninsured in Idaho (not covered by a public or private or mood disorders) are eligible for health insurance coverage under the New Medicaid Expansion Program and the New State Health Insurance Exchange in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 4. Nearly 15,000 (14,709) adults who are uninsured in Idaho (not covered by a public or private or mood disorders) are eligible for health insurance coverage under the Current State Medicaid Program already operating in the state and in place prior to the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 5. Nearly 58,000 (57,828) adults who are uninsured in Idaho (not covered by a public or private or mood disorders) are eligible for health insurance coverage under the New Medicaid Expansion Program and the New State Health Insurance Exchange in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the Current State Medicaid Program. 5

6 Number of Uninsured People Ages in Idaho with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Eligible for Health Insurance under the New Medicaid Expansion Program and the New State Health Insurance Exchange in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and Eligible for Coverage under the Current Medicaid Program 1. Nearly 22,500 adults (22,015) who are uninsured in Idaho (not covered by a public or private health insurance program) with a substance use disorder (e.g., dependence or abuse can involve alcohol, cocaine, heroin, and many individuals have a co-occurring mental health condition such as schizophrenia or an anxiety disorder) are eligible for health insurance coverage under the New Medicaid Expansion Program in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 2. Nearly 11,500 (11,333) adults who are uninsured in Idaho (not covered by a public or private health insurance program) with a substance use disorder (e.g., alcohol, cocaine, heroin and many individuals have a co-occurring mental health condition such as schizophrenia or an anxiety disorder) are eligible for health insurance coverage under the New State Health Insurance Exchange (online marketplace) in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 3. Nearly 33,500 (33,349) adults who are uninsured in Idaho (not covered by a public or private health insurance program) with a substance use disorder (e.g., alcohol, cocaine, heroin and many individuals have a co-occurring mental health condition such as schizophrenia or an anxiety disorder) are eligible for health insurance coverage under the New Medicaid Expansion Program and the New State Health Insurance Exchange in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 4. Nearly 9,000 (8,604) adults who are uninsured in Idaho (not covered by a public or private health insurance program) with a substance use disorder (e.g., alcohol, cocaine, heroin and many individuals have a co-occurring mental health condition such as schizophrenia or an anxiety disorder) are eligible for health insurance coverage under the Current State Medicaid Program already operating in the state and in place prior to the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 5. Nearly 42,000 (41,953) adults who are uninsured in Idaho (not covered by a public or private health insurance program) with a substance use disorder (e.g., alcohol, cocaine, heroin and many individuals have a co-occurring mental health condition such as schizophrenia or an anxiety disorder) are eligible for health insurance coverage under the New Medicaid Expansion Program and the New State Health Insurance Exchange in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and eligible for coverage under the Current State Medicaid Program. 6

7 Additional Findings for Idaho Nearly 36,000 (35,541) uninsured adults in Idaho with a mental health condition (persons with either a serious mental illness or in serious psychological distress) are eligible for health insurance coverage under the New Medicaid Expansion Program. Nearly 58,000 (57,557) uninsured adults in Idaho with a behavioral health condition (people with a serious mental illness, in serious psychological distress, or with a substance use disorder) are eligible for health insurance coverage under the New Medicaid Expansion Program. The 58,000 uninsured adults in Idaho with a behavioral health condition represent 59 percent of the total adults 98,726 in the state who are eligible for coverage under the New Medicaid Expansion Program. Nearly 34,000 (33,793) uninsured adults in Idaho with a mental health condition (persons with either a serious mental illness or in serious psychological distress) are eligible for coverage under the new State Health Insurance Exchange Program. Nearly 46,000 (45,126) uninsured adults in Idaho with a behavioral health condition (people with a serious mental illness, in serious psychological distress, or with a substance use disorder) are eligible for coverage under the new State Health Insurance Exchange Program. The 46,000 uninsured adults in Idaho with a behavioral health condition represent 45 percent of the total persons 103,029 in the state who are eligible for coverage under the new State Health Insurance Exchange Program. Nearly 23,500 (23,073) uninsured adults in Idaho with a mental health condition (persons with either a serious mental illness or in serious psychological distress) are eligible for coverage under the Current State Medicaid Program. Nearly 32,000 (31,677) uninsured adults in Idaho with a behavioral health condition (people with a serious mental illness, in serious psychological distress or with a substance use disorder) are eligible for coverage under the Current State Medicaid Program. The 32,000 uninsured adults in Idaho with a behavioral health condition represent 66 percent of the total persons 48,069 in the state who are eligible for coverage under the Current State Medicaid Program. 7

8 The nearly 92,500 uninsured adults with a mental health condition (persons with either a serious mental illness or in serious psychological distress) in Idaho represent (37 percent) of the 249,824 uninsured adults eligible for coverage in the state under the three health insurance programs (Current Medicaid, New Medicaid, New Exchanges). The nearly 134,500 uninsured adults with a behavioral health condition (people with a serious mental illness, in serious psychological distress, or with a substance use disorder) in Idaho represent (54 percent) of the 249,824 uninsured adults eligible for coverage in the state under the three health insurance programs. 8