America's Health Insurance Providers Create Innovative Programs to Improve Behavioral Health Care Access

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 (TNSOps) -- America's Health Insurance Plans issued the following news release:

Every American deserves access to mental health and substance abuse service as an important part of maintaining their overall health, A new AHIP issue brief spotlights the leading role health insurance providers are taking to deliver affordable and innovative behavioral health solutions to their members by integrating behavioral health with their primary care. including novel programs specifically designed to address the behavioral health needs of children and adolescents.

"COVID-19 has led to a significant increase in the demand for behavioral health care and shined a spotlight on our already over-burdened behavioral health care system, further emphasizing the need for strategies to ameliorate the systemic shortage of providers and expand access to care," said Matt Eyles, AHIP President and CEO. "Many Americans face significant barriers accessing mental health services, including social or economic factors. Health insurance providers are continually taking action by innovating to provide all of their members with whole-person care that can be best achieved when behavioral health care is integrated with their physical health care in their primary care settings."

While progress is being made, and more and more people are getting the behavioral health treatment they need, more work needs to be done.

To enhance access for their members, health insurance providers continue to encourage the appropriate use of telehealth for behavioral health care, reduce stigma which can make people reluctant to seek care, advocate for programs to increase the behavioral health workforce, and work toward value-based care models that improve quality.