CLEVELAND — Mental health has long been stigmatized, but Ohio's new budget promises to take it seriously.
"This is a very favorable budget for mental health and addiction services," Scott Osiecki, CEO for the ADAMHS (Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services) Board of Cuyahoga County, told 3News.
Osiecki says the new funding for mental health services is a game changer for those struggling. In addition to raising awareness, it's also shining a light on the need for mental health and addiction services.
"It will allow ADAMHS boards to continue the services that they're providing, as well as perhaps add a little bit more services as well," Osiecki explained.
Some key items in the law include:
- Increasing reimbursements for providers
- Increasing mental health access for both kids and adults
- Continued support for prevention, crisis, and recovery services
"It also begins to address the low Medicaid behavioral health reimbursement rates, which will actually allow for a 10% increase in the rates being paid to our providers for the services that they provide," Osiecki added.
"Mental health organizations right now have a lot of vacancies, and part of it is because there are so many open jobs just in the world," Dr. Dave Margolius, director of public health for the City of Cleveland, said. "So, to compete with those jobs, you need to give higher reimbursement rates."
Mental health for kids is also a focus for Ohio this next year. Lt. Gov. John Husted tweeted on Wednesday about the Social Media Parental Notification Act, effective on Jan.15, 2024. It requires certain online companies to get verifiable parental consent before allowing kids under the age of 16 to use their platforms.
Local advocates see these new Ohio laws paving the way for better mental health resources for our entire country.
"It really doesn't completely undo the decades of underinvestment that behavioral health services has had," Osieki admitted, "but it really continues to move it in the right direction."
