in Mansfield recently announced that it will serve as the Connecticut site in the Federal Medicaid Psychiatric Emergency Demonstration, a program aimed at reimbursing private psychiatric hospitals for their services.
The Demonstration provides $75 million over three years to 11 states, and will have a significant impact locally, as Natchaug is the only non-governmental psychiatric hospital in the state that caters to the "full range of clients in the Medicaid and Medicare programs," according to the hospital.
“Natchaug Hospital has long provided eastern Connecticut with quality mental and behavioral health care," U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney said in a prepared statement.
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"As a result of the Affordable Care Act, the hospital today adds the Federal Medicaid Psychiatric Emergency Demonstration program to its list of resources that help our most vulnerable citizens," he said.
"In addition to improving care for those in need, the Demonstration program will have a positive impact on the region's emergency care departments as well as save taxpayer resources."
The hospital said the new program is expected to benefit nearly 100 adults presenting to Connecticut Emergency Departments in "acute psychiatric distress."
Stephen W. Larcen, Ph.D., Natchaug and Windham Hospital President & CEO, said that Natchaug welcomes the initiative.
"Along with the 2008 Wellstone Domenici Mental Health Parity legislation and the CT Behavioral Health Partnership, this creates improved access to mental health care," he said.
For more information, visit Natchaug.org.
