December 9, 2024
The FY2026 State Budget Needs to Include Significantly Greater Investment in the Behavioral Healthcare System
For many months, Juanita's anxiety and depression made it difficult for her to go to her job and to socialize with her friends. When Juanita finally built the motivation and courage to seek help, she was added to a wait list and did not have her first outpatient mental healthcare appointment for several months.
During that time, Juanita's mental health further deteriorated and led to a drastic decline in her job performance and she lost her job. This situation led to insomnia and withdrawal from her friends.
Fortunately, Juanita was able to be stabilized with individual therapy and medication management from Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton's Early Intervention Support Services program. She was then referred to Catholic Charities' outpatient program to maintain her stability.
How Could Juanita's Situation Have Been Better if She Received Services Earlier?
- She would have been spared the torment of worsening depression and anxiety and the resulting impact on her relationships.
- She may not have ended up losing her job, which could have prevented further worsening of her mental health challenges, as well as stress resulting from financial constraints.
What Would Likely Have Happened if Juanita Never Received
Services?
- Further exacerbation of depression and anxiety
- Need for treatment in emergency rooms and/or inpatient hospital units, which are much more costly than community-based behavioral healthcare services
- Increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors
- Increased risk of not being able to secure new employment, which can cause further mental and emotional decompensation
How Can these Risks Be Reduced?
The following - and more - must be included In the FY2026 State Budget:
- Increases of Medicaid and fee-for-service rates, as well as contracts, by 8%
- Substantially greater investment in the behavioral healthcare workforce, which has been declining as the demand for services has continued to increase
- $10 million to maintain New Jersey's Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
- Additional significant investments to strengthen the behavioral healthcare system and, as a result, improve New Jersey residents' quality of life, as well as the state's bottom line
In addition, several legislative bills need to be signed into law
to further reinforce mental healthcare, substance use treatment
and social services. For example:
- A1143/S1032 to ensure the State considers a cost-of-living adjustment for human services' rates and contracts each year
- S2504/A3937 to set Medicaid rates for mental health services equal to Medicare rates for the same services
- S3565/A2803 with amendments to increase access to telehealth
NJAMHAA urges Governor Phil Murphy and the State Legislature to
keep in mind Juanita's story and others featured in NJAMHAA's
campaign, Untold Stories, as they develop and vote on
the FY2026 State Budget and legislation that impacts behavioral
healthcare services - and most importantly, the many children,
youth and adults who depend on them.
Please click here to see details and more success stories,
as well as more untold stories from service recipients and
behavioral healthcare staff, in NJAMHAA's Untold Stories
campaign.
