Despite a shortage of mental health providers, Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are prioritizing growing their mental health provider networks. Since 2019, the number of providers has climbed by 55%. Primary care providers are playing a strong role, too.
Nearly half of all Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Medicare Advantage, a popular program that provides affordable, coordinated, patient-centered care and offers additional benefits that address social needs, such as meal support and transportation.
The patient-centered medical home concept continues to expand across the country as providers demonstrate that improving quality of care can simultaneously drive overall costs down for patients.
BCBS Kansas is working to improve access to mental health care through a statewide awareness campaign, as well as an initiative to make sure the patient is matched with the appropriate provider.
Every American deserves accessible, affordable and equitable health care. But this is not the reality for many people – especially people of color. Yet the root causes of these disparities – from bias and lack of access to social drivers of health – are difficult to measure. Robust and actionable data is needed to better serve all communities.
