NEW HAVEN, CT—In advance of this year’s AccessHealthCT open enrollment period for health insurance, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) today highlighted the increased access to mental health benefits available under the Affordable Care Act. She was joined by Dr. Michael Sernyak, CEO of the Connecticut Mental Health Center, and Daniella Giordano, Public Policy Director of the Connecticut Chapter of the National Association on Mental Illness.

“Mental health problems are as real an illness as diabetes or cancer; in fact, they are a leading cause of disability in America,” DeLauro said at the event. “But today there are treatments for diseases which only a few decades ago seemed beyond the grasp of modern medicine. And with great institutions like the CT Mental Health Center, Clifford Beers, BHCares, Yale-New Haven Hospital, the West Haven VA and so many others, Connecticut is a leader in this field. These providers are there if you need them. I encourage individuals and families to take advantage of what is in the law, and visit with a doctor or counselor if necessary.”

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires all health plans to cover preventive services like depression screening, at no cost to patients. Insurers also can no longer deny coverage or charge higher premiums to individuals with a pre-existing condition like mental illness. Altogether the ACA’s reforms have expanded mental health and substance use disorder benefits to an estimated 62 million Americans.

DeLauro serves as the senior Democrat on the subcommittee responsible for funding the Health and Human Services Department. From that position she oversees our nation’s investment into health care services, including mental health.

Approximately 59 percent of adults, and nearly 40 percent of children, do not receive needed mental health services. Since 2010, federal funding for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has been cut by $358 million, after adjusting for inflation and population growth. States have cut more than $4.35 billion from mental health funding from 2009-2012.


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