American Psychological Association’s Post

Insightful report on why #mentalhealththerapists leave insurance networks and how this creates barriers to #mentalhealthparity

#livefiercelydaregreatly In times of uncertainty, prioritizing your mental health with accessible services is critical. That's why UM UCH’s Klein Family Center providers are credentialed with most insurances, in an effort to eliminate any potential barriers for care. Don't wait until you're at a breaking point to seek help - we're here for you 24/7, call 800-NEXT-STEP. #MentalHealthMatters #AddictionServices #AccessibleCare https://lnkd.in/eYDFzDrE

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act was recently amended to strengthen its mandates and introduce stricter compliance measures for employers and insurers. Familiarize yourself with the MHPAEA and the new final rules to develop an effective compliance strategy. #HTthoughtleadership https://hubs.la/Q02TPmM70

Wanna know why everyone in our mental health system complains about it but nothing changes? It is so. freaking. complicated. Therapists, who are best positioned to see the dysfunction and advocate for change, are largely at a loss about how this all works. It's not what our training focuses on. We barely understand who is paying us when we see insurance patients. Who is at fault for our low rates? Sure, we could try to "follow the money." That might work in any other sector. But the money in healthcare does not move linearly! Case in point: this NYTimes article. It's a must-read. I have to admit that it helped me realize how much I have left to learn about how money flows in #mentalhealth care. But it reinforced that the opacity is keeping us all stuck in something that doesn't serve anybody well. https://lnkd.in/eN3_AFcN

Health insurance plans now have more Mental Health visits, but does it matter if people still can’t afford it? 1 in 4 people are not receiving needed care because of cost. Or does it matter if our employees can’t get in to see anyone? It often takes months to get in to a Mental Health professional. So what is your strategy to make sure your employees show up to work in the “Right State of Mind?” #employeebenefits #mentalhealth #healthinsurance #benefits

HUGE news yesterday for mental health coverage: Private insurers and corporate health plans will now be required to cover mental health care services on par with other health services. (Yes, there was already a Mental Health Parity law passed in 2008. No, that law wasn't enough for the majority of Americans with mental illness to actually have access to the care they need. This will make the idea behind that law more of a reality.) This is an absolute game-changer, not just for anyone struggling with addiction or depression, but for the industry and the country. Many millions of Americans are now going to be able to access mental healthcare that weren't before, which is obviously a boon to them and their well-being, as well as being a big client influx for those treating them. And perhaps with more universal coverage, more Americans will recognize what the government has already recognized: Mental health is health. https://lnkd.in/eXpK4587

In this episode, Lisa M. Gomez, the U.S. Dept. of Labor's Assistant Secretary of the Employee Benefits Security Administration explains how EBSA can help people work with their health insurance companies to pay for or reduce the cost of seeking help for mental illnesses and disorders. She also outlines how minority men--especially #aanhpi ones--are the least likely to seek help. https://lnkd.in/gzqvcTKH  #mentalhealth #insurance #EBSA #benefits #mentalillness

Moving in the right direction!!

Found this article while doing research for a homework assignment. It is deeply upsetting. Centene is one of the top five major insurance providers in the US. Yet, the "ghost networks" for mental healthcare provided by Ambetter (whose parent company is Centene) made it such that most of the mental health providers on their list did not provide mental health services, if they were still even alive and still even practicing. The ghost networks for one insurance user, were inconvenient, then frustrating, then awful, and finally horrific. I just don't understand how one organization can get all that money and still have nothing to provide to those who they serve who are in deep need. I have no idea why Ambetter is still even continuing as a company today. trigger warning for: suicidality, alcohol abuse, vivid descriptions of illness and death, depression, anxiety. https://lnkd.in/eJxU_A3p

Another article proving what we have been saying all along – it is doubly important for Indian employers to provide EAP, because unlike in some other countries, even the best of insurance policies do not cover counselling or therapy even despite the recent changes to the Mental Healthcare Act. And if someone struggling with suicidal ideation, or having a diagnosed mental illness like depression or OCD, cannot get treatment covered by insurance, what is the hope for the multitude struggling with daily life challenges like marital conflict, communication, parenting difficulties, elder care challenges or even bereavement? As mentioned in the article, one 60-minute session can cost someone between INR 1000 to 5000; whereas for the company, it would work out to less than the cost of a cup of coffee. Wouldn’t you be willing to buy a cup of coffee for every employee once a month if it meant they were able to better handle stress and mental health concerns? https://lnkd.in/ggekVQtg