Medicaid freeze could lead to Minnesota hospitals closing psychiatric units
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The Trump administration’s decision to temporarily freeze some federal Medicaid money has left hospital psychiatric units in a dire position.
Medicaid, which helps low-income people get needed health services, is a crucial funding source for mental health treatment. Without it, hospitals might pull back those services or close down psychiatric units, Marcus Schmit, Minnesota’s executive director for the National Alliance of Mental Illness, told MPR News.
“Those who are being served are really people with serious mental illnesses, low-income adults and people who are in crisis, and those services are expensive,” Schmit said, adding that rural hospitals are especially vulnerable to the funding freeze.
Schmit added that with closures, most of those who need mental health support will likely end up in emergency rooms or even jail.
“So unfortunately, if there are fewer beds across the state, they're going to seek out that care in places where we don't want them to be,” he said.
Listen to the full conversation by clicking the player above.
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