Over lunch with his nephew, lawyer and entrepreneur Harry Fath learned that insurance reimbursement rates are poor for mental health treatment in Cincinnati. His nephew, Dr. Brian Dowling, a psychiatrist at the Lindner Center for Hope, says that the Lindner Center’s expenses are on par with general hospitals in the Cincinnati region, but the mental health hospital gets just 30-70 percent of what other fields receive in reimbursement.
Fath and his wife Linda were determined that there was something they could do that would be a game changer for the Center. In stepping up with a $50 million pledge to the Lindner Center, the Faths want to encourage matching contributions on a sustaining basis from across our region.
S. Craig Lindner, co-CEO of American Financial Group, and his wife Frances, who serves on the Lindner Center board, joined the Faths pledge and made the first match — of $25 million. Including the Lindner match, the $75 million total is the largest amount ever received by the Lindner Center.
The Lindner Center opened in 2008 in Mason and is affiliated with UC Health. The Center draws patients from throughout the country and treats about 6,700 patients annually. The Lindner Center offers comprehensive programs and innovative options for treatment and support.
This transformational gift will allow the Center to continue treatment for psychiatric disorders; attract and retain the best doctors; serve patients who need financial assistance; and increase understanding and awareness that effective world class treatment exists locally for psychological problems, behavioral health issues and addiction.
While psychiatric disorders affect about one in four adults, there remains a stigma attached to seeking treatment. The National Institute of Mental Health states that mental disorders are common in the U.S. and internationally — an estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder each year.
In the last 25 years, the understanding of mental illness and the way the brain functions has expanded tremendously, resulting in new programs, services and treatment options that better match patient’s individual needs.
With their generous gifts, the Faths and the Lindners hope to encourage a wider community to join friends and family members who have been impacted by mental health issues to contribute to the Lindner Center — be it a one-time gift or $10, $100 or $1,000+ per year for the next five years.
To learn more about the Lindner Center for Hope, visit lindnercenterofhope.org.
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