Mental health organizations call on legislature to pass measure to improve behavioral health coverage
Jefferson City, Mo (March 27, 2018) A new report from the Missouri Federation of Behavioral Health Advocates identifies serious gaps between mental health care needs and access to care. The report shows patients struggle with severely limited provider networks and a lack of in-network options offered through private insurance for behavioral healthcare.
“While significant progress has been made, people living with mental illness and addictions continue to encounter barriers to receiving necessary treatment,” Missouri Federation Co-Chair Mark Utterback said. “Missourians who need mental health and addiction treatment are finding it disproportionately harder to get care than those seeking medical care for physical conditions.”
The report, titled “Nowhere to Turn,” found that compared to outpatient care for medical specialty treatment, mental health therapists and substance use counselors were three times more likely to be out of network, and psychiatric prescribers were twice as likely to be out of network. As a result, health plan members are often forced to pay higher out of network costs for behavioral health.
The organization is calling on the state legislature to address this issue through the passage of House Bill 2384, sponsored by Rep. Jay Barnes. The bill would increase fairness in health insurance coverage and hold insurance companies accountable for covering mental health care at the same level as other physical health conditions. It also includes substance use disorders as a component of mental and behavioral health.
“This legislation would be a significant step forward in eliminating discrimination toward mental illness and substance use disorders in health insurance,” Utterback said.
The measure has passed out of committee and will go to the full house for a vote.
The Federation has released the complete report, titled Nowhere to Turn: Findings from a survey on access to mental health and addiction treatment.
