By Meghan Harris, President and Chief Operations Officer Mental Health Burden According to the World Health Organization, an estimated one billion people[1] live with a mental health or addictive disorder. That’s one out of every eight people on the planet. In the U.S., estimates suggest that only half of people with mental illnesses receive treatment.[2] And according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA)’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, only a small proportion of individuals who need substance use treatment receive it, leaving approximately 90% who go without treatment.[3] The burden of mental health disorders and the associated economic costs are enormous — to individuals, the economy, and society. Despite growing awareness, physical and behavioral health services largely operate separately, with minimal coordination. This fragmentation leads to gaps in care, inappropriate treatment, increased hospitalizations, and, ultimately, higher costs.[4] CMS and Medicaid use “behavioral health” as an umbrella term that encompasses mental health, substance use disorders (SUD), and other behavioral conditions.[5] Medicaid and Behavioral Health Mental health issues disproportionately affect those on Medicaid. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, more than one in three adult Medicaid enrollees have a mental illness and Medicaid enrollees diagnosed with mental illness have higher rates of chronic conditions and substance use disorder compared to those without a mental health diagnosis.[6] Given this, it’s no surprise that Medicaid is also a major source of financing for mental health services. The Medicaid program finances more than one-quarter of the U.S. spending on behavioral health care; it is, by far, the largest single source of funding for public mental health services. However, Medicaid coverage for mental and behavioral health services varies significantly by city, county, and state. While all state Medicaid programs mu