Email UpdatesMedicaid members experience mental health and substance use disorders at significantly higher rates than other populations — yet, amid a nationwide shortage of behavioral health care providers, access to services remains limited. Although Medicaid includes robust behavioral health care benefits and pays for a greater portion of behavioral health care services than any other insurer in the U.S., workforce shortages are a key barrier to access, especially in rural, low-income, and other underserved communities. In some areas, there are as few as three behavioral health care providers per 1,000 Medicaid members. Half of U.S. counties do not have a practicing psychiatrist, and three fourths of counties are either entirely or partially designated mental health professional shortage areas. With upcoming budget pressures on states, finding innovative strategies that expand, extend, and retain skilled behavioral health care providers is critical.
The workforce shortage is driven by a complex set of challenges, including low reimbursement rates and provider wages, burnout and attrition, and costly, non-transferable professional licensing requirements. State Medicaid agencies can play an important role in addressing these issues, strengthening the behavioral health care workforce, and helping their members access care. In this virtual panel hosted by the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), behavioral health care experts from California, Oregon, and Massachusetts will explore state Medicaid policy levers to strengthen the behavioral health care workforce. Panelists will discuss strategies such as broadening the use of community health workers, peer specialists, lay counselors, and other paraprofessionals; revising payment and reimbursement models; investing in workforce development and provider education; streamlining licensing and accreditation processes; and advancing new care delivery models and technologies.