April 2016 | Joel C. Cantor | Opinion: Improving the Lot of Some of New Jersey’s Most-Overlooked Citizens
Recent actions by the Christie administration are giving significant momentum toward improving the lot of many vulnerable New Jersey residents — people with persistent, disabling mental illnesses, addictions, and chronic homelessness.
In his 2017 budget address, Gov. Chris Christie committed over $100 million to increase payment rates for mental-health and addiction services in Medicaid, the state healthcare program for the poor and disabled. There are steep barriers to access mental-health and addiction care among low-income populations, and inadequate Medicaid payments are one cause of these obstacles. While not a panacea, higher rates surely will help enhance access.