Heather Saunders

2 weeks ago | kff.org | Heather Saunders |Alice Burns |Robin Rudowitz

Chronic conditions (also referred to as chronic disease or illness) have drawn increased attention in recent months, partly due to the focus on chronic conditions under HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again,” (MAHA) initiative. Among working age adults enrolled in Medicaid, approximately three quarters have one or more chronic conditions, and nearly one-third have three or more. Medicaid coverage facilitates access to care for this population.

2 months ago | kff.org | Heather Saunders |Rhiannon Euhus |Alice Burns |Robin Rudowitz

Options under consideration in Congress to significantly reduce Medicaid spending could have major implications for adults who live with mental illness. Nationwide, an estimated 52 million nonelderly adults live with mental illness, and Medicaid covers nearly one in three (29%) of them, or about 15 million adults.

Sep 23, 2024 | kff.org | Heather Saunders |Nirmita Panchal |Sasha Zitter

Since the opioid epidemic was declared a public health emergency in 2017, it has claimed 454,464 lives, with opioid-related deaths rising by 67% between 2017 and 2023. Initially driven by prescription opioids and heroin, the epidemic has shifted in recent years, with illicit synthetic fentanyl—a substance 100 times more potent than morphine—now dominating most markets. Even a small amount of fentanyl can be lethal, and in 2023, 7 in 10 counterfeit opioid pills contained a deadly dose.

Jul 29, 2024 | kff.org | Heather Saunders

On July 16, 2022, the federally mandated crisis number, 988, became available to all landline and cell phone users at no charge. This three-digit number connects users–via phone, text, or chat–to a network of over 200 local and state-funded crisis call centers, providing access to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for crisis counseling, resources, and referrals.

Jul 4, 2024 | themedicalcareblog.com | Lindsey Dawson |Heather Saunders

Before we introduce this week’s post about important disparities in 988 utilization, by Lindsey Dawson and Heather Saunders and originally published in KFF Health News, we wanted to highlight an upcoming Symposium on Responding to Behavioral Health Emergencies being held by the Medical Care section of the American Public Health Association (among others). The need for robust, effective, and consistent responses to behavioral health emergencies has never been greater.