Source: Ohio Department of Insurance Director Judith L. French
The mental wellness of Ohioans is a major priority for Governor Mike DeWine and for the Department of Insurance.
The governor said in his recent State of the State address that “our budget will approach mental healthcare more holistically” and “this work will involve a coordinated, comprehensive investment in new innovations to achieve better outcomes and will recognize that what works for one person in one community may not work for everyone, everywhere in Ohio.”
Transformative traction, including through the governor’s RecoveryOhio initiative, has been made and the Ohio General Assembly has appropriated millions of dollars in funds to support more of his mental health initiatives.
That traction includes the governor, hours into his second term, signing an executive order officially establishing the Ohio Mental Health Insurance Assistance Office (MHIA) within the Department of Insurance to help Ohioans identify and utilize their mental health and addiction insurance benefits. Insurance is the main gateway to receiving care.
Staff from the Department of Insurance and the new MHIA office, which began its work last summer, protects consumers through education and vigilant regulation of insurers’ compliance with insurance requirements.
The MHIA office staff helps individuals, families, employers, mental health advocates, healthcare and behavioral health professionals, and many other stakeholders understand how to identify the mental health and substance use disorder benefits that may be in a person’s health insurance plan, and how to access those benefits to receive care.
Whether someone has health insurance through an employer, a government program, purchased it directly through an insurance agent, or is uninsured, the MHIA office staff can help and it can also triage inquiries with other regulatory agencies for health insurance that is not regulated by the Department of Insurance.
An information and services hub on the Ohio Department of Insurance website has quickly become a popular resource for consumers, healthcare and behavioral health professionals, advocates, and employers. The MHIA staff are conducting educational outreach, including webinars, conferences, and training; and are available at 855-GET-MHIA (855.438.6442) or getmhia@insurance.ohio.gov, to answer your mental health insurance questions.
As you can tell, the Ohio Department of Insurance is quite active in the mental health and addiction insurance space, and urges you to reach out if you need assistance. It is proud to be part of this important work to help Ohioans and are looking forward to even more transformative outcomes ahead.