RURAL MENTAL-HEALTH COVERAGE UNDER HEALTH-CARE REFORM

Efforts to integrate services and financing under health care reform h old 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 mole evident. The model for managed care in remote rural areas will differ from those used in urban and their adj acent rural areas. Universal coverage would remove the barriers to acc essing care for this population, but does not assure availability of a dequate mental health services or providers in rural areas. Characteri stics of currently available rural mental health services are presente d and obstacles to expanded delivery under health care reform are outl ined.