BIlly Long: Ozark Center in Joplin is proof that investing in mental health works

(From Seventh District Congressman Billy Long)

In a cost cutting move a few years ago, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) decided to close one of its district offices in Joplin, Missouri. The former MoDOT building has since been transformed into the Ozark Center, a state-of-the-art behavioral health facility that I toured in November. The Ozark Center, unlike some behavioral health facilities, focuses on treating the whole person rather than just the mental illness. It has become a great asset for the Joplin area.

Unfortunately, folks with mental illnesses live 25 years less on average than the general population. They can expect to live a quarter of a century less than their neighbors. But the reason for this startling statistic is just as surprising. This shortened life span, it turns out, is due to medical conditions that could be easily treated if given access to adequate resources. That’s why providing more resources for mental health is crucial.

In 2014, Congress created a pilot program expanding access to mental health services and strengthening quality of care. Missouri was one of eight states picked to take part in the Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers (CCBHC) program. The CCBHC program aims to integrate behavioral health with physical health by providing services such as crisis care, wellness services, screenings and treatment.

The Ozark Center focuses on comprehensive behavioral health services. This facility is one of three clinics in southwest Missouri picked to participate in the CCBHC program.

This program launched in July of 2017 and has been nothing short of a tremendous success. Like many health care clinics throughout the country, the Ozark Center has only a limited number of resources to work with. However, thanks to the pilot program, many of these resources are much more sustainable. Unlike previous years, the Ozark Center has been able to increase their scope of services, provide a safety net for their patients, reduce wait times and increase access to care.

During my tour of the Ozark Center, I was shown firsthand the resources made available to patients struggling with mental illnesses. One resource in particular was transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy, which is used for patients with severe depression. This non-invasive treatment is fairly new to the Ozark Center, but according to some patients they are already seeing improvements. Before starting TMS therapy one patient at the Ozark Center had tried a number of antidepressants, but none seemed to work. It wasn’t until he started TMS therapy that he saw improvements, such as sleeping better and eating more.

The Ozark Center is proof that investing in mental health works. It’s among many reasons I have supported legislation, such as the 21stCentury Cures Act and the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, that provide more resources for mental health and targeted care. I look forward to continuing to support the Ozark Center and its work to help those suffering.