Indiana urged to up mental health spending to $120 million in next budget
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A state commission is urging lawmakers to consider imposing new taxes or fees to continue to build out a robust behavioral and mental health system.
Why it matters: In addition to the toll that untreated mental illness and crises takes on the individuals suffering and their families, it's estimated that untreated mental illness costs the state more than $4 billion each year.
The big picture: Lawmakers created the Community Mental Health Fund last year, appropriating $50 million annually to establish the 988 crisis response system and certified community behavioral health clinic model.
Driving the news: The state's Behavioral Health Commission released a new report urging the Indiana General Assembly to double the fund appropriation to $100 million in 2026 and to $120 million in 2027.
- The report made nearly 20 recommendations for legislative action to improve access to care, including ways to increase the number of providers and facilities.
- It also outlined several avenues for financial sustainability, including raising alcohol, cigarette or sports betting taxes and recommended the state adopt a $1 surcharge on cellphone bills to fund the 988 crisis response system.
Zoom out: Congress gave states $1 billion to build out the 988 hotline in 2022, amid nationwide concern over worsening mental health, with the expectation that states would establish their own long-term funding to operate call centers and crisis services.
- Those efforts have been uneven, contributing to significantly lower response times in certain states. As with much of the health care system, the level of crisis services available to people depends greatly on where they live.
- Though all states use surcharges on cellphone bills to fund 911 services, few have done the same for 988 so far.
By the numbers: By late last year, over 90% of 988 calls placed in Indiana were answered in state, one of the highest in-state answer rates in the nation.
- The state is averaging between 6,000 and 7,000 calls to 988 monthly.
- Those that aren't resolved over the phone may be responded to by a mobile response team.
- More than 3,000 dispatches to mobile crisis teams were made in the first half of 2024, with approximately 1% escalated to law enforcement and approximately 10% resulting in emergency department visits.
What they're saying: "This early measure of success is an indicator that the 988 Crisis Response System is already working as designed, as reducing the number of cases escalated to law enforcement and emergency departments is a target outcome of the 988 Crisis Response System," according to the report.
What's next: The budget-writing legislative session starts in January.
- "Until we get in a mode where we have long-term, sustainable funding, we're going to continue having this discussion," said Sen. Michael Crider, R-Greenfield, a member of the commission and the Senate's appropriations committee, at a press conference this week.