GAO: 17% of low-income, uninsured adults have behavioral health condition

An estimated 3 million low-income, uninsured adults have a serious mental illness and/or substance use condition, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office. That’s about 17% of low-income, uninsured adults, with estimates by state ranging from 6.9% to 27.5%, GAO said. About half of these adults live in states that had not expanded Medicaid to low-income adults as of February, the agency said. The report looks at options for low-income adults to receive behavioral health treatment in selected Medicaid expansion and non-expansion states. Selected expansion states generally managed behavioral health separately from other benefits, reporting increased treatment availability but some continuing access concerns. Selected non-expansion states offered treatment options for uninsured adults, but primarily provided treatment to those with the most serious behavioral health needs.