Poor health status of persons with serious mental illness

Research shows that persons with serious and persistent mental illness (SMI) have premature mortality from natural causes, a higher degree of health risk and less access to quality health care. Treatment or prevention of medical conditions has not generally been integrated into mental health systems, hampering efforts to promote recovery and optimal health outcomes. Of Maine's 10,707 persons with SMI, 7676 have Medicaid as their sole insurer. Analyses describe the prevalence of medical diagnoses, pharmacy data and utilization/cost of psychiatric services and medical/surgical services for those with SMI compared to a matched cohort of Medicaid members without mental illness. Using national performance measures, the quality of preventive care and the quality of health care for persons with diabetes and heart disease is compared to that received by the general population. Developing models for collaborative data analysis across state agencies provides a means to understand the interaction between mental health and health conditions for persons with SMI. As states engage in transformation of mental health systems, it is essential to have a methodology for tracking physical health, because of the primary importance of health to quality of life and recovery, and also for monitoring the total cost of care for persons with SMI and medical co morbidities. Having data about health status and health care delivery will also allow policy makers to understand the degree to which persons with serious mental illness are a distinct population with health care disparities, and to target strategies to address those disparities.