Addiction system at risk

~ Jason Schwartz

The Washington Post on the potential impact of SAMHSA and Medicaid cuts:

SAMHSA’s future is complicated by other factors in Washington. Republicans hashing out Trump’s signature domestic policy bill have targeted cuts to Medicaid, which pays for mental health and addiction treatment for millions of people. SAMHSA grants help pay for treatment for people without Medicaid or other insurance.

“Even if you doubled the SAMHSA budget, it would never account for what you’re going to lose by the kinds of cuts we’re seeing proposed in Medicaid,” said Richard G. Frank, director of the Center on Health Policy at the Brookings Institution.

Gordon, E., & Ovalle, D. (2025, June 19). SAMHSA has fought drug and mental health crises. Now it’s in crisis. The Washington Post.

Unknown's avatar

Published by Jason Schwartz

I have been an addiction professional and social worker since 1994. I started blogging in 2005 as the Clinical Director at Dawn Farm. I currently serve as the Director of Social Work and Spiritual Care for a healthcare system. I've also served as the Director of Behavioral Health at another hospital. I'm also a lecturer at Eastern Michigan University’s School of Social Work. Views expressed here are my own. Keep in mind that the field, the contexts in which the field operates, and my views have changed over time.

One thought on “Addiction system at risk”

  1. Shameful and scary what is going on. It will not just affect SUD services and many rural hospitals will probably close their doors because they cannot rely on just employer sponsored insurance plans. With the loss of Medicaid and Medicare that will be the final straw for many rural hospitals. What is so tragic is that many patients will have to rely on air transport to the nearest emergency room and many will die on the way to emergency services. I am grateful to be an old retired phart from the field, a relic from better days behind us. It was always a challenge to keep our services going strong and Medicaid Expansion paid for much care over the years. That will be a tragic loss indeed for programs that definitely have provided much needed care over the years.

    Like

Comments are closed.