According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 82,000 West Virginia adults have a serious mental illness, and the state ranks among the highest in the nation for rates of depression.
Deborah Steinberg, senior health policy attorney with Legal Action Center, said there are still reporting exemptions for people with disabling mental disorders.
"How can we get more people diagnosed?" said Steinberg. "You know, one of the things would be to increase access to universal screening, making sure there are more opportunities for people to get screened for a mental health condition."
The new law requires people prove they are working 80 hours a month or participating in community engagement in order to maintain Medicaid coverage. Fifteen million non-elderly adult Americans rely on Medicaid for mental health and substance use disorder services.
Steinberg added that states can help mitigate how many residents lose coverage by implementing as many protections as possible. And she added, West Virginia and other rural states where hospitals and clinics rely on Medicaid for income will be hardest hit.
"These strategies are so important everywhere," said Steinberg, "but especially in the rural areas that are going to be hit the hardest by this trillion dollars of cuts."
A recent report calls on states to identify individuals that are receiving or have received medications, services, and supports for disabling mental health conditions – including psychiatric medications, outpatient mental health therapy, or counseling, and to expand integrated care services.
