Better than Nothing

Counseling for anxiety and depression, "often exacerbated by poverty and inadequate housing," is less costly than emergency rooms. While the Affordable Care Act provides for counseling by licensed clinical social workers and psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists were excluded from reimbursement by Medi-Cal. Under the new law signed by Governor Brown, Medi-Cal patients at federally-funded clinics will have expanded access to mental health services.

While the quality of mental health care under Medi-Cal--like all health services for the poor--is lower than that of those who have private insurance, it is arguably better than nothing.