Mental Health Matters_ How Mental Health Awareness and Medicare Advancement is Evolving in Assisting the Elderly.pptx

1. 1 LOS GATOS, CA | CAMPBELL, CA | SARATOGA, CA

2. 2 Mental Health Matters: How Mental Health Awareness and Medicare Advancement is Evolving in Assisting the Elderly

3. 3 Introduction According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), mental health in the elderly is a critical, yet often overlooked aspect of overall well-being. The NIA emphasizes that older adults can experience various mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and even cognitive decline. The NIA also underscores the importance of early detection and proper interventions for the elderly, as untreated mental health issues can lead to a drastic decline in physical health, increasing the risk for chronic conditions.

4. 4 Mental Health in the Elderly, the Facts: At least one in four older adults experiences some mental disorder, such as depression, anxiety, or dementia. Due to population aging, the number of seniors with mental disorders is expected to double by 2030. Depression is the most common mental health problem in older people. People aged 85 and older have the highest suicide rate of any age group. Two-thirds of seniors with mental health problems do not get the treatment they need (the “treatment gap”). Mental health services for older adults are extremely limited in most countries of the Americas.

5. 5 Medicare and Mental Health Coverage: The Commonwealth Fund does a deep dive into the intricacies of mental health coverage as it exists under Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans, but large barriers still exist. While there is notable expansion in mental health coverage, like lower cost sharing for outpatient mental health services, and free annual visits from the Affordable Care Act, many improvements are still needed – especially for those with chronic or serious mental health needs. Limitations to the 190-day lifetime cap on inpatient psychiatric hospital care, provider shortages, and lack of coverage for specific mental health coverage highlight serious needs that are seeking improvement.

6. Expanding Access to Mental Health Care for Seniors through Medicare: A Step in the Right Direction 6 It is no surprise that in recent years, the inadequacy of mental health care for seniors on Medicare has been a forefront issue. Older adults have been facing significant hurdles to acquire the mental health services they so desperately need, and the dire need for these services only increased for the elderly from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In the recent eye-opening article by Judith Graham in The Washington Post, the critical need for reform is highlighted, as well as initiatives aimed at making mental health care more accessible for Medicare beneficiaries.

7. 7 Current Challenges The New York Times takes a closer look at the shortages of medical specialists as they relate to Medicare and mental health. There is an increasing importance of having a certain number of highly qualified professionals to meet the growing needs of the elderly, especially in a post-Covid world. According to The Washington Post, more than 124,000 behavioral health practitioners have opted out of Medicare, making it the medical specialty with the most significant number of non-participating providers. In addition, The WHO emphasizes the dire significance of integrative care as it relates to the mental health of the elderly population. While many seniors are blessed with good health, there is a large portion who require some form of long-term care. Integrative care combines both mental and physical health, social support, and other factors which can assist and influence well-being.

8. 8 Hope on the Horizon: Legislative and Regulatory Changes While this all may seem quite dark and drastic, there is a ray of hope on the horizon: Inclusion of Marriage & Family Therapists – Legislative and regulatory changes are poised to expand Medicare’s pool of behavioral health providers, which is a significant step forward in addressing these challenges. Expansion of service coverage – Furthermore, Medicare is extending its mental health coverage by offering up to 19 hours per week of intensive outpatient care as a benefit. Telehealth Expansion – COVID-19 brought about several changes, one notable one being the expansion of telehealth services. This has provided older adults access to services from the comfort of their homes, and granted additional access to adults who may have a more difficult time making in-person appointments.

9. 9 Despite Positive Changes, Hurdles Remain While there are many positive changes looming on the horizon, and they certainly highlight a step in the right direction, several challenges remain. Medicare must ensure that mental health counselors and therapists who work with Medicare patients are adequately compensated. In this effort, it becomes crucial to establish fair and competitive reimbursement rates to attract and retain qualified mental health professionals within the Medicare network. The NCOA offers insights about improving access to mental health care for Medicare recipients that draw from their expertise. While challenges exist, there is a strong advocate for change. By advocating for change and putting more policies in place, we can ensure that the fight for more accessibility and effective mental health systems are in place for older adults.

10. 10 Overcoming Mental Health Biases for the Elderly Perhaps the largest struggle of all is the societal bias that minimizes the mental health needs of older adults. No legislation or policy change can directly address or change the minds of the masses. The belief that seniors should don a “grin and bear it” approach when dealing with depression remains prevalent. If you have direct questions about Medicare or what your plan covers, we encourage you to visit: https://www.aarp.org/membership/benefits/insurance/medicare/ And if you or someone you love, especially the older loved ones in your life, are struggling with depression – your primary care physician in Campbell, CA is a great place to start. To schedule an appointment with Dr. V and discuss any next steps with handling the hardships life can throw your way – visit to schedule an appointment.

11. 11 OUR KEY PHILOSOPHY “ ” What I try and do with every patient I see, in the first few minutes, is just let them say what’s on their mind and there’s a lot of study that show we don’t do that enough in medicine. These are small things that you can’t pick up really from just filling out a form. That’s why it’s really important to spend time, talking and listening and building that relationship. ~ Dr. Arun Villivalam, M.D.

12. 12 SERVICES WE PROVIDE 01 05 Physicals – All Ages Blood Work A regular physical provides a record of your overall health and can be a useful tool in identifying any changes in your health.  Blood work is an important resource to help determine any conditions that could be causing the symptoms that are bringing a patient to the doctor, 02 06 Lifestyle / Stress Management Chronic Care Management Learn to manage stress by scheduling a wellness checkup and learn preventive strategies. Get medical care for preexisting or long term illnesses, such as asthma, hypertension, depression and cirrhosis.  03 07 Wellness Visits / School Physicals Women’s Health Best primary care physician in Los Gatos provides Womens Health screening from our practice in Los Gatos, CA A regular check up provides the opportunity to monitor your child’s growth and development and to safeguard against any potential issues.  04 08 Men’s Health Medicare Annual Wellness Visits Men’s health screenings will catch any conditions in early stages where preventative medicine can be used to treat or manage a condition before it progresses. Medicare encourages its members to review their health annually, and to take care of any potential medical concerns before they develop into something more serious. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque enim nisl, vulputate quis mi sed, dapibus hendrerit turpis. Praesent at volutpat neque, ut rutrum odio. Sed quis tincidunt dui, in vulputate arcu.

13. 13 MEET DR. ARUN VILLIVALAM Dr. Arun Villivalam is a concerned and caring family physician and primary care doctor serving the community of Los Gatos, CA. Dr. Villivalam attended Thomas Jefferson University, where he received his medical degree, and completed his residency in family medicine at Cook County Hospital.