Elected officials, including the Public Service Commission, state legislators, the Gianforte administration, and congressional delegations must do more to increase access to healthcare and mental health treatment in Montana. A number of steps have been taken, notably mental health issues As the state emerges from the COVID pandemic, people in Montana are gaining experience.
From Wibo to Saltese, to the extreme north and south of Interstate 90, rural Montana needs improved access to better healthcare, including mental health care. there is 60 million Americans Nearly half of them go without treatment, despite laws on equality in mental health. narrow insurance network It makes it very difficult for patients to find mental health providers within their network, forcing them to choose between seeking treatment and paying costs they cannot afford.
The first thing we can do is pass a policy that mandates Medicaid telemedicine and mental health coverage. Medicare, and private insurance companies. Telemedicine is often cheaper than face-to-face care, eliminates patient travel costs, and is a safer option for people with mobility impairments or those who live in areas with rough winter roads. . For many Americans, the options for mental health providers are far fewer than for other health care providers. Mental coverage has become essential for Montana residents.
The second thing we can do to increase access to health and mental health care is to expand reliable internet services via broadband. map Shows current broadband access levels throughout Montana. About 25% of the state’s densely populated areas are underserved, mostly in rural areas. Living in a rural area doesn’t mean you have limited medical options. In a recent poll, 82% of her Montanaans surveyed said it was important to improve broadband and increase telemedicine.
COVID-19 has made many things clear, including that telemedicine is an effective and viable option for those who need access to healthcare and mental health treatment. Across the United States, telemedicine increased his 63% during the pandemic. If it worked then, it still works now, but we need a better system to make telemedicine and mental health services easy and affordable for people in Montana.
Ham is CEO Treasure State Internet & Telegraph.
