Congressional hearings were held last week to address prevention and wellness as the cornerstone to health reform. Bill Emmet, Campaign for Mental Health Reform, explained how mental health and substance use disorders are intertwined with preventable chronic illnesses contributing to loss of productivity and a shorter life expectancy (averaging 25 years). Emmet said:
People with mental illnesses are uninsured at twice the rate of the general population: 34% of people with mental illness have no health coverage at this point. In other words, many people with mental illnesses are excluded from our nation's porous health care system right form the start. In addition, it is possible to identify "patient factors" (amotivation, fearfulness, homelessness, victimization/trauma, resources, advocacy, unemployment, incarceration, social instability, IV drug use, etc.), "provider factors" (comfort level and attitude of healthcare providers, coordination between mental health and general health care, stigma), and "system factors" (funding, fragmentation) as reasons people with mental illnesses are receiving poor overall healthcare.
The panel also heard from public health experts on diabetes, obesity, and smoking. Testimony can be downloaded from the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and a video of the hearings is available.
