The Nation - News from March 3, 1988

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter said that mental illness is America’s No. 1 health problem as the House Select Committee on Aging opened hearings on a plan to increase spending on care and services for mentally ill senior citizens. The “Elderly Mental Health Initiative” advanced by Rep. Edward R. Roybal (D-Los Angeles) would increase outlays for community-based services for the elderly and their families, on research into prevention, treatment and services, and on training for health care professionals. It also would lift the lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric care paid by Medicare and expand Medicare to cover more outpatient and community-based mental health services. It would also require Medicaid to cover community-based services. According to a report by the House panel, between 15% and 25% of Americans over 65, about 7 million people, have significant mental health problems.