Lamar Reese’s Post

Not breaking news but a great mental healthcare trends resource from the state of Washington. Love when I can play around with data! Their highlights/key deltas are... 📈 From 2017-2022, the percentage of insurance claims involving a mental health diagnosis increased from 11.83% to 17.43% 💸 The cost of mental health services has increased 69% since 2017, driven primarily by the use of services. During the same time, the average amount paid to providers per service has only increased by 4% 🏙️ In 2022, 18% of enrollees in an urban area had a mental health diagnosis compared to 13.55% in rural areas https://lnkd.in/gA4RtnMV

Rising Mental Health Awareness Among Seniors Recent data from a FAIR Health, Inc. analysis reveals a significant 40% increase in mental health diagnoses across the nation from 2019 to 2023, with seniors experiencing the largest surge. As of 2023, 14% of individuals aged 65 and over have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, up from 9% in 2019. This uptick, while reflective of the stress and anxiety brought on by recent global events, also suggests a promising decline in stigma surrounding mental health issues and an increase in accessibility to care, particularly through telehealth services. The data, drawn from approximately 46 billion commercial insurance claims, including Medicare Advantage, shows that the trend spans all age groups. However, it's particularly pronounced among seniors and young adults aged 23-40. Generalized anxiety disorder was noted as the most prevalent diagnosis in 2023, underlining the need for continued focus and resources dedicated to mental health, especially as it becomes a more recognized threat to public health. #MentalHealthAwareness #SeniorCare #HealthcareInnovation #Telehealth #anxiety #mentalhealth #senior #brainhealth #psychotherapy https://lnkd.in/gy8KPEyR

Most insurance companies provide mental health coverage options. These include counselling and therapy services from regulated health professionals, such as Registered Psychotherapists (RP). Unlike dental and prescription coverage, the general population often underutilizes paramedic services like counselling and psychotherapy. You do not typically need a diagnosis to access psychotherapy services. It is recommended to call your insurance company to confirm coverage. #mentalhealth #mentalhealthcanada #psychotherapy

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently detailed adjustments to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), which are expected to bolster both accessibility and coverage for mental health and substance use treatment services. Learn more about how these upcoming changes will impact payers and what your health plan can do today to prepare: https://bit.ly/4eeL8XT

Parity means equality.   In healthcare coverage, it means brain health is covered by insurance on the same basis as physical health.   More than 15 years after Congress first passed the Mental Health Parity Act, the new regulation is a huge step in the right direction - making sure that individuals living with #PTSD, anxiety, depression, substance use or other mental health conditions  can receive the care they need and deserve. Link 1 in the comments.   Access to care is critical. The brilliant minds of the healthcare industry can continue researching, innovating, and developing new treatments, but if patients don’t have access, then we have not accomplished anything.   Looking forward to meeting likeminded people on this journey to help people get Back to Better. See you at the Alignment for Progress conference in DC. Link 2 in the comments.   The time for action is now.   Patrick J. Kennedy #PTSD #Mentalhealth The Kennedy Forum

An unprecedented 40% more Americans have access to mental health care w/insurance, than 3 years ago. This SHOULD be good news- but it isn’t: 👉 Suicide rates: ~30% increase 👉 Emergency rooms used for mental health crises: ~15% increase This is downright weird. Why are folks sprinting to the ER… even when they’re penciling in more mental health appointments? I looked deeper. Turns out: 👉 The stigma still looms (So people wait till they have a crisis) 👉 Appointment wait times still average ~3mo (More waiting = more edging toward crises) 👉 Deductibles have risen ~31% (So in-network costs for mental health appointments are still high) 👉 Spotty mental health-related insurance coverage (Means high out-of-pocket costs = Not seeking help in time) Bottom line: The current incremental solutions on the market are not, and will NOT make a big enough dent in this problem. #mentalhealth

It’s Mental Health Awareness Month. Federal law requires that health plans apply similar rules to mental health benefits as they do for medical and surgical benefits. This is known as mental health parity. This means that plans must apply comparable copays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums for mental and physical health care. It also means that any restrictions your insurance plan imposes on the number of visits for mental health services must be similar to those set for medical and surgical services. Learn more about mental health parity at https://lnkd.in/gVPfBT3d. #OregonDFR #MentalHealthAwareness

Research shows barriers to mental healthcare amongst the African American community include: stigma, lack of knowledge, lack of affordability, lack of trust, impersonal service from treatment providers and lack of cultural understanding. Representation in mental healthcare is so important for these reasons. When searching for a mental health provider its important to: 💎Book a consultation. 💎Understand payment options + resources available to you. 💎 Understand your insurance benefits package. 💎 Verify the mental health provider’s license (as a Coach and a Licensed Clinician have very different offerings). 💎 Verify if the mental health provider is licensed to practice in the state you currently reside. If you are using insurance, calling your insurance provider is always a great start. If not, here are a few directories that can help you in your search: @therapyforblackgirls @latinxtherapy @melaninandmentalhealth @inclusivetherapists @therapist.to.therapists @psych_today It’s Mental Health Awareness Month! Take care. Be healthy. Be whole. #blackandbrown #statistics #research #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #mentalhealthmatters💚 #mentalhealthmatters🧠 #femaletherapist #houston #texas #Dallas #women #therapistlife #therapist #therapy #lcsw #clinicalsupervisor #mentalhealthcare #therapyworks

The share of patients with mental health diagnoses rose 40% nationally from 2019 to 2023, with the most significant jump among seniors, according to a FAIR Health analysis shared first with Axios. https://ow.ly/ash150RxkLS #NAAP #MentalHealthAwareness #SeniorHealth #HealthcareTrends #MentalHealthMatters #PublicHealth #HealthDataAnalysis #MentalHealthStatistics #HealthcareInsights #SeniorWellness #HealthcareAnalysis

Uncover the Hidden Truths Behind Denials... Ever sensed your mental health practice battling an unseen foe? You're spot on. Denials loom as a persistent danger. But the scariest part? They often masquerade as isolated incidents. And the reasons? Always seeming arbitrary. Here's the kicker: Denied claims may seem haphazard, but beneath the surface, familiar patterns emerge. And those patterns frequently slip past practitioners unnoticed. Intrigued? Here's how to unveil these concealed trends: ➡️ Monitor Your Denials: Analyze denials based on categories, time frames, and insurance providers. ➡️ Identify Patterns: Do certain diagnoses or services consistently face denial from specific payers? ➡️ Track Trends Over Time: Is there a rising trend in denial rates for a particular service or provider? Once you spot these trends, you can take action to address and prevent future denials. Remember, Don't let denials lurk as silent threats. Instead, become a vigilant denial-busting investigator. Still grappling with denied claims? Schedule a call, and leave it to me. That's my expertise! PS: I specialize in boosting revenue for mental health providers by 30%. PSS: Feeling overwhelmed by denied claims?