NGA Chair New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer hosted the third convening of the NGA Chair’s Initiative: Strengthening Youth Mental Health, in Detroit, Michigan, from April 20-21, 2023. The Governors were joined by New Jersey First Lady Tammy Snyder Murphy, North Carolina First Lady Kristin Cooper, and North Dakota First Lady Kathryn Burgum. Strong state contingents from Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, and Utah were joined by over 60 diverse policy and subject matter experts and private sector leaders to discuss state solutions for the third pillar of the Chair’s Initiative: Access and affordability of quality treatment and care.
Continuing challenges to access and affordability
Challenges in accessing and affording youth mental health and substance use care are an everyday reality for young people, their families, and communities. “Care deserts” persist, especially in rural states, where the nearest source of specialized treatment and care could be hundreds of miles away. Access can also be impeded by a high cost of care. States vary in their enforcement processes of insurance coverage parity for physical and mental health needs…
