Rural mental health coverage under health care reform

Efforts to integrate services and financing under health care reform hold benefits for provision of services to rural mentally ill persons. Remote areas pose a particular challenge as the unique characteristics of rural America are even more evident. The model for managed care in remote rural areas will differ from those used in urban and their adjacent rural areas. Universal coverage would remove the barriers to accessing care for this population, but does not assure availability of adequate mental health services are or providers in rural areas. Characteristics of currently available rural mental health services are presented and obstacles to expanded delivery under health care reform are outlined.