89. What If We Just... Didn’t? Defunding Mental Health in America

Imagine a world where we didn’t fund mental health services—where Medicaid comes with work requirements, SAMHSA loses a billion dollars, and vital programs like CCBHCs vanish. In today’s episode, we kick things off with our whiny farmer intro (because even rural folks feel the cuts) and then dive into the real-life consequences of slashing support for mental health care. From Arkansas to Iowa, we explore the impact of Medicaid work requirements and the sobering data behind policy decisions. Rural communities—already struggling with access and affordability—stand to lose the most. We also talk through how to manage uncertainty when the systems meant to support us are the very ones being dismantled.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Discover strategies for navigating the behavioral health system with ease.
• Uncover the far-reaching impact of potential behavioral health funding cuts.
• Understand the ongoing debate around Medicaid work requirements and its impact on mental health care.
• Gain insights into the future of SAMHSA and how it may affect behavioral health funding.
• Explore the crucial role of CCBHCs in providing comprehensive behavioral health care.

The key moments in this episode are:
00:00:02 - Introduction to Behavioral Health Systems
00:03:02 - Medicaid Work Requirements
00:08:49 - Reorganization of SAMHSA
00:11:07 - Potential Cuts to CCBHCs
00:13:26 - Challenges in Funding for Behavioral Health Services
00:14:00 - Impact of Uncertain Funding on Providers
00:15:21 - Disruptions in Research and Data
00:17:17 - Effects of Medicaid Work Requirements
00:19:32 - Lack of Transparency in Cost Savings
00:21:21 - Uncertainty in SAMHSA Funding
00:26:31 - Uncertainties and Mental Health Funding
00:26:44 - Encouragement to Review Show Notes
00:27:04 - Call to Action and Conclusion
00:27:47 - Call for Engagement and Future Episodes

Links: 

• Medicaid
  • Common Wealth Fund
  • Iowa Medicaid
  • National Rural Health
• SAMHSA
• CCBHCs
• Research/Data
• Mental health cuts

Connect with us: 

https://ruralpolicypartners.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/linkedin.com/company/rural-policy-partners/ 

https://www.facebook.com/facebook.com/ruralpolicypartners

https://www.youtube.com/@ruralpolicypartners

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/41mNXv39Cu4