More than 1,200 employees at state psychiatric hospitals have retired during the COVID-19 pandemic, and just over half have been replaced, state officials said.
Meanwhile, courts have begun expediting cases of people accused of mentally ill crimes with the help of coronavirus economic stimulus packages. As a result, more psychiatric evaluations were ordered to determine whether they were competent to stand trial.
“It was just the perfect storm,” said Kevin Tanner, director of the state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
Over the past two years, Georgia lawmakers have passed a series of bills targeting the state's mental and behavioral health crisis, which has grown in size and severity since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. These initiatives include parity legislation that requires: Insurance companies provide some level of coverage for mental health care and substance use disorders Comparable physical health care, reaffirming federal requirements, and developing a 988 system for mental health emergency notifications.
Republicans and Democrats agree that supporting mental health workers is the biggest remaining challenge.
Low wages – Healthcare providers are struggling as a result of stagnant wages and outdated Medicaid reimbursement rates. Meanwhile, licensing obstacles are slowing out-of-state therapists from practicing in Georgia.
These talent shortages pose challenges for those in need. of Timely care. According to Mental Health America's 2023 report, Georgia ranks 49th in access to care.People often wait months to get an appointment, which can lead to mental health problems To develop into a crisis.
This year, lawmakers are looking to build on previous efforts by funding pay increases and reimbursement rates for state workers, pending a deal with the federal government. Several bills would also bring Georgia's licensure requirements in line with other states and encourage more practicing mental health counselors to work in the state by allowing them to take the certification exam early. The purpose is
How they get there is still being studied.
large-scale national secession The workforce meant fewer people were available to treat people with mental illnesses and access the mental health system. For example, he held more than 30 positions as a psychologist, including those who conducted evaluations. Tanner said the position was vacant as of February.
Of the approximately 4,500 behavioral health and developmental disabilities employees in the state, most work in state psychiatric hospitals.Governor Brian Kemp's budget year proposal Starting July 1, all state employees will receive a 4% cost-of-living raise on top of a one-time $1,000 bonus sent in December.
States require increased federal health care spending for private health care workers such as doctors, psychiatrists, clinicians, and those who bill Medicaid. Provider reimbursement rates. If approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, providers who serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities would see an increase in payments for their services by about 45 percent, and behavioral health providers by about 30 percent. That's possible, spokesman Caleb McMichen said. DB HDD.
Those rate increases could have made a life-changing difference in the pay of Lacrecia Izard, who worked for several years at a community-based behavioral health and developmental disability services organization. Eventually, due to her low pay and her desire to improve her skill set, she quit those jobs and struck out on her own as a telemedicine mental health counselor.
When she entered the field, she knew she was doing it to help the field. It's not about raising money for people in need.
“You learn how to adapt to life on a slightly lower salary because you really want to help people in difficult situations,” she said.
She said the condition is important now. Lawmakers increase state salaries Enable behavioral health workers to remain on-site and serve Georgia's most vulnerable populations.
Georgia has one of the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rates in the Southeast, a concern said by Representative Todd Jones, who co-sponsored the mental health bill last year. Mental health professionals could be tempted to leave the state and seek better rates.
“Talent can move on if they see a better opportunity,” he said. “We have to keep them here.”
Another barrier to entry for behavioral health workers is the high cost of education for the degrees often required to work in the field.
Senate Bill 480, sponsored by Republican Sen. Mike Hodges, one of Kemp's ranking leaders, would authorize medical professionals to work in mental health and substance abuse. If you care for “underserved youth” or practice medicine in underserved communities, Georgia to help you get money for student loan repayments. Apply to the State Health Labor and Welfare Commission.
One of the challenges slowing down the pipeline of new action workers into the state is licensing. It can take many months for a therapist to become certified in Georgia, and they may have to repeat courses or meet additional requirements, even if they have been practicing for several years.
Several bills moving through the Legislature are designed to facilitate licensure in Georgia for marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, and social workers who have practiced professionally in other states.
Senate Bill 373, sponsored by Republican Sen. Larry Walker, requires marriage and family therapists who come to Georgia from other states to have a valid license in another state, maintain good standing, and be satisfied. This allows you to obtain a license in the state as long as you do so. Take a criminal background check, fill out an application, and pay the required fees.
House Bill 1344, introduced by Republican Rep. Katie Dempsey, would require the Georgia Multidisciplinary Medical Board, which licenses many health care professionals, to license licensed professional counselors, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed marriage licenses. – The content allows exemption from the requirement for family therapists to obtain supervision time. They completed two years of work in another state. A similar version, Senate Bill 336, did not pass the floor.
SB 336's sponsor, Republican Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, said she is “optimistic that important parts of the mental health bill will actually pass.”
Similar to the agreement between states to recognize each other's driver's licenses, House Bill 839, also sponsored by Dempsey, would allow Georgia and other member states to increase the qualifications of clinical social workers at the bachelor's and master's levels. It would create an agreement that would allow them to operate in those states without having to hold one. Licensed separately in each state.
“There is no question that one of the lessons we learned during COVID-19 is the shortage of social workers needed across the state,” Dempsey said during the committee hearing. Ta.Bill to recognize counselors Practice in Georgia and counselors in Georgia in member states It passed the House last week for implementation in other states.
Trenise Johnson, a clinical social worker and therapist, said during the hearing that she started working in Louisiana and is now licensed and living in Georgia, where she runs an online telehealth business.
“This interstate compact bill will allow us to provide professional services to even more clients outside of Georgia,” she said.
However, the international medical licensure bill stalled in committee.
Ruth Cordova said she spent about $40,000 to get a degree in marriage and family therapy because the clinical psychology certification she earned in Guatemala is not recognized in Georgia.
At her internship, she is one of only two therapists who speak Spanish. Clients who are victims of human trafficking and need other treatment.
“There are a lot of people who need multilingual therapy, but there aren’t enough therapists to provide it, and not everyone can go back to school,” she said.
Another bill, House Bill 793, sponsored by Republican Rep. Matt Barton, would allow social workers to take a licensure exam during their final semester of graduate school and would allow social workers to “enter the workforce after graduation.” “We can start.” ” He said. HB 793 passed the House and the Senate is considering the bill.
Increasing demand for mental health services and a shortage of workers are putting pressure on existing service providers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2022, 46% of healthcare workers reported feeling burnt out often or very often.
Counselors must also take care of their own mental health. Izzard, an online mental health counselor, said a pay increase would go a long way in solving burnout.
“They're going home and they're exhausted,” she said. “They don't usually have time to do anything, whether it's working out or meditating. It becomes a factor.”
House Bill 455, sponsored by Republican Rep. John LaHood, would make it safer for health care professionals to receive treatment to combat career fatigue and burnout without fear of losing their license or harming their reputations. The goal is to create a safe haven. Counselors providing treatment to health care professionals, including physicians, pharmacists, nurses, or other qualified professionals, who have no reason to believe that the patient may be at risk As long as the service is not required to be reported to the licensing board.
HB 455 has passed both chambers and awaits Kemp's signature.
“At a time when we are grappling with a severe workforce crisis, health care is not immune,” Lahoud told members of the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee. “We want to create a safe space and encourage doctors to go get help and stay in the game, rather than suffering in silence and compromising their ability to provide good service.”
Izard said the stakes are high for improving the demanding workload expectations placed on mental health providers.
“They're leaving the scene because they're burnt out,” she said. “We're losing really good counselors.”
