The number of in-network behavioral health providers increased by 48% over the past three years.
That’s according to a new survey from AHIP, which highlights the behavioral health efforts by commercial insurers.
AHIP said providers increase care access and affordability when they partner with health plans.
A major segment of respondents increased reimbursement rates and are seeking a more diverse behavioral health provider network, according to the survey.
“While a lot of work has been done, health insurance providers recognize the need to address systemic challenges,” Kate Berry, senior vice president of clinical affairs and strategic partnerships at AHIP, said in the release. “This can only be accomplished by all health care stakeholders working collaboratively to ensure Americans have affordable access to the high-quality mental health support they deserve.”
Health plans that responded to the AHIP survey cumulatively cover 95 million lives. The health insurance industry advocacy group conducted the survey from May to June 2022. This includes individual market and group health plans. The survey didn’t articulate which or how many health plans participated in the survey.
Big picture data points
The overall ratio of all in-network behavioral health care providers increased to 1,851 per 100,000 enrollees. This is a 48% increase over the past three years, the survey states. A previous AHIP survey found that 41 million people get access to behavioral health care through an employer-backed health plan.
Facility-based care lagged somewhat compared to the number of specific providers. There are 15 inpatient psychiatric hospitals and 37 residential/inpatient treatment facilities for mental health/substance use disorders per 100,000 commercial health plan members, according to the survey. These figures are 40% and 34% higher, respectively, than three years ago.
“The mismatch between the supply of mental health and substance use disorder providers and the demand for care is a longstanding problem,” Berry said. “That’s why health insurance providers are working hard to improve their provider networks and increase access to care.”
COVID-19 worsened mental health on a global scale. It also inspired a wide movement to address it.
One study published in The Lancet found COVID globally prompted 53.2 million new instances of major depressive disorders and 76.2 million new instances of anxiety disorders. From the business sector, M&A activity jumped by 33% in 2021. Youth mental health especially inspires wide government response at the state and federal levels.
The AHIP data suggests reactions from the insurance industry. Large shares of respondents are actively growing behavioral health networks (89%), many with an eye on provider diversity (83%).
Seventy-eight percent said they increased reimbursement rates for behavioral health providers. They did so to “recruit more high-quality professionals to their plan networks.” Several healthcare operators have complained about low health plan reimbursement rates. Over the last 20 years or so, this has fomented fights at the national level over health plans complying with parity laws.
The survey also finds that 83% of respondents reported helping enrollees find open behavioral health appointments. This is vital as the insurance industry frequently faces criticism over inaccurate network information which is seen as another barrier to care.
In-network behavioral health segment insights
Some specific segments of behavioral health providers are seeing much higher rates of coming in-network than others.
The two fastest growing segments over the last three years are Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) specialists and providers that are eligible to provider medication-assisted treatment (MAT), according to the survey. The former grew by 135% while the latter increased by 114%.
Psychologists (11%), child/adolescent psychiatrists (19%) and psychiatrists (21%) represented the three slowing-growing specialties over the past three years. These specialties also have some of the highest opt-out rates with Medicare, the federal health plan for seniors.
ABA specialists largely provide care for children with autism. The autism segment has seen instability in recent weeks with a spate of layoffs and office closures.
MAT providers assist patients in recovering from substance use disorders. Startups in the digital health space have piled into this form of treatment over the last few years, garnering millions in investments.
All of the respondents said they offered access to digital mental health services.
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