Children who are on Medicaid in Indiana and need inpatient mental health services are typically allowed three days in a facility. Health care workers need to request permission to keep them longer. But many say that three days isn't enough, and that those requests are often rejected by insurers.
A bill being discussed at the Statehouse would turn that three-day window into five business days. Indiana Public Broadcasting's All IN talked about the bill with Side Effects reporter Carter Barrett, a child psychiatrist and the lawmaker behind it.
READ MORE: Why Some Kids May Not Get Enough Mental Health Care"My bottom line is: I think the decisions about how long a child needs to be hospitalized need to be left to the people that actually treat them," says Dr. Darla Hinshaw, a child psychiatrist.
They discussed why some see the change as crucial, and why others are worried about its consequences.
Copyright 2021 Side Effects Public Media. To see more, visit Side Effects Public Media. 9(MDA5NTM4MTIyMDE0MTg3NDc2MTVlZjdmNQ001))