Health Affairs: Medicare’s Mental Health Problem
There is a growing mental health crisis among older adults: 20–30 percent of older adults older than the age of 65 report symptoms of anxiety or depression, and older adults exhibit the highest rate of suicidal ideation of any age group. However, only a fraction of affected Medicare beneficiaries receive treatment. The authors recommend encouraging provider participation in Medicare, policy makers should also consider broader policies to facilitate access. This includes telehealth and cross-state licensing. As highlighted in a recent proposal by the Senate Finance Committee, facilitating greater telehealth access may help mitigate limited access for seniors, especially those in rural areas. Policy makers could also consider extending COVID-19-era policies that allowed mental health providers to practice across state lines.