First, let’s be clear — there is no “mental health system” serving people with serious mental illnesses in this country just as there is no single “healthcare system.” Mental health services are available in every community just like general medical services. For people with serious mental illnesses, these services are primarily funded with state Medicaid dollars and delivered by not-for-profit organizations or by state and county employees.

Every state has a unique Medicaid program — offering, for the most part, similar services to people with serious mental illnesses but with enough variation in what the services are called, how much is paid for the covered services, and who is eligible to receive the services to confuse most consumers and families and many of the most sophisticated Medicaid experts. Additionally these services are in a constant state of redesign often labeled as “healthcare reform.” Click here to read more.