The Co-Pandemic: Breaking Down Barriers to Mental Health Access in the Age of COVID-19

Women In Government Podcast

Women In Government Podcast The Co-Pandemic: Breaking Down Barriers to Mental Health Access in the Age of COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic is making an existing mental health crisis worse. Experts are warning mental health issues and substance use disorders will be exacerbated for people who already have these conditions, and may lead to new mental health and substance use issues in the general population. On this episode of the Women In Government Podcast, our panel discusses how methods to restrict access to lifesaving medications can hurt patients and state budgets. Health outcomes data shows that prior authorization policies for psychotropic medications in Medicaid patient populations have led to poorer outcomes for patients, including medication discontinuation, lapses in care, homelessness, emergency room visits, incarceration and an increased use of crisis services. Mental health treatments are not one size fits all. Treatment plans should be designed between a patient and their doctor. ••••• ••••• ••••• MODERATOR: Connecticut State Representative and Women In Government Eastern Regional Director, Christie Carpino GUEST #1: Reyna Taylor, Vice President of Public Policy & Advocacy, The National Council for Behavioral Health GUEST #2: Dr. Manpreet K. Singh, MD, MS, Director for the STANFORD Pediatric Mood Disorders Program GUEST #3: Brenda Gleason, President and Founder, M2 Healthcare Consulting ••••• ••••• ••••• For more information, please visit www.womeningovernment.org and check out https://www.protectaccesstomhmeds.com/ Audio courtesy of OSUCHLUCK Productions, www.osuchluck.com