Report: As baby boomers age, mental healthcare takers will wear thin

July 19, 2012 — According to a recent report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), statistics show that as many as one-in-five American seniors have a mental health or substance abuse problem.

Additionally, research indicates that as the population rapidly ages over the next two decades, millions of baby boomers may have a hard time finding care services for mental health problems due to a lack of mental health care providers.

The IOM report calls for a redesign of Medicare and Medicaid payment rules to guarantee coverage of counseling, care management, and other types of services crucial for treating mental health conditions and substance use problems so that clinicians are willing to provide this care.

Source: American Chiropractic Association, acatoday.org