Apa Letter in Support of the Primary and Behavioral Health Care Access Act

August 15, 2024 The Honorable Lauren Underwood The Honorable Kim Schrier 1410 Longworth House Office Building 1110 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Katie Porter The Honorable Angus King 1233 Longworth House Office Building 133 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20510 Dear Repr [...] adults live with a diagnosed mental illness, however, less than half of those individuals received mental health treatment in the past year. [...] Along with existing workforce shortages, out of pocket health care costs remain a major impediment to patient access. Last year, nearly 60% of those with unmet needs cited cost of care as a reason for not accessing treatment. [...] By requiring private health insurance plans to cover three primary care visits and three behavioral health care visits during a plan year, without charging a copayment, coinsurance or deductible related fee, your bill would immediately make care more affordable and improve access for millions in need. [...] It is long understood that early intervention improves patient outcomes and prevents the worsening of conditions, reducing the risk of long-term disability or chronic illness. In addition, early intervention mitigates the likelihood of secondary complications or comorbidities such as substance use disorders, self-harm, or the development of other mental health conditions. By allowing more pati [...] 9133/S.4835 and look forward to working with you to advance this legislation. [...] If you have any questions, please reach out to Dana Doran at ddoran@psych.org. [...] Sincerely, Marketa Wills, MD, MBA, FAPA Medical Director and CEO American Psychiatric Association