The Decline of Psychiatry, Part 2

Earlier we reported on the declining numbers of psychiatrists in Indiana. Now we have this report of a similar decline in Ohio:

[...]Trumbull is undergoing a psychiatrist shortage, according to those at Trumbull LifeLifes, the agency considering joining forces with Summa Health System in Akron.

‘‘It’s a perennial challenge here in Trumbull County, all over the state,’’ said James Sager, LifeLifes chief operating officer. ‘‘Finding and keeping psychiatrists is particularly a difficult challenge for us.’’[...]

According to the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis, Ohio had 1,019 psychiatrists six years ago, making 31st in the nation in the number of psychiatrists per capita. In comparison, Pennsylvania ranked 11th with 1,753.

[...]

Director of consultation liaison psychiatry at Summa, Tod Ivan, said he believes there is an overall shortage largely because of federal policy.

He said the government — through Medicare — has restricted funding for specialty care, like psychiatry, in favor or primary care. Also, Ivan said, policy regarding managed care makes it hard for psychiatrists to make a living, like for example, a 50 percent co-payment on mental health services through Medicare.

‘‘Nationally, for about 20 years, the numbers have remained flat,’’ he said.

Of course, they try to put a positive face on the report, citing partnership efforts with other population centers. We suspect that there is a larger long term trend that they are not at alll happy about, and that this report is just another pin in the Voodoo Doll of Psychiatry.