Mental health care in the U.S. isn't based on the best outcomes but on health insurance companies doing the minimum amount required to protect themselves from legal liability.
A Maplewood parent who experienced first-hand a family member denied mental health coverage calls on insurance companies to change the way patients are evaluated for treatment.Imagine two 16-year-olds at a doctor’s office with recent headaches and bloody noses. One has a healthy history, so the doctor sends them home with aspirin and perhaps something to keep their nose moist. The other is in recovery from childhood leukemia, and these are two of the symptoms of that disease.
My family has our own incredibly painful experience with this overriding flaw in mental health coverage. For the sake of privacy, I won’t delve into individual details. But the bottom line is time and again over the last six years, a family member has been denied ongoing mental health coverage just when they needed it most.
Don’t miss an issue of our Opinion newsletter! Get it delivered each Wednesday right into your inbox by adding your email below and hitting"subscribe."Our struggle is not an anomaly. Health care in our country, particularly mental health care, is not based on the best health outcomes. It’s based on health insurance companies doing the minimum amount they believe is required to protect themselves from legal liability.
So a substantial majority of teenage girls aren’t living their lives normally. A third is at risk of ending their lives, and one in five have actually tried. Yet we continue to allow a health insurance system that perpetuates and worsens the crisis.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
AOC TikTok defense ripped after Chinese parent company gave 6-figure donations to Hispanic caucus nonprofitsRep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was blasted for opposing a TikTok ban given Chinese parent company ByteDance's six figure donation to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Foundation.
Read more »
Pelvic Floor Exercises for Core Strength - Today's ParentYou had a kid, which means your core and pelvic floor have performed an Olympic-scale feat and deserve special attention. Dara Bergeron, founder of Belly Bootcamp, shows your three moves that strengthen your pelvic floor. pelvicfloorexercises postpartum
Read more »
Best Potty Training Products 2023 - Today's ParentBefore beginning this stressful and messy task, it’s important to have the right tools on hand. pottytraining pottylearning pottytrainingtips
Read more »
Utah teens will need parents' permission to use social mediaThe new laws' broad language sets a curfew for social media use (!), and could even affect apps like Duolingo and AllTrails.
Read more »
Disney Dreamers Academy: Teens leave with life lessonsTeens bid an emotional farewell at the commencement ceremony on the final day of the Disney Dreamers Academy at Walt Disney World on Sunday. ddaDisney Be100
Read more »