Across the globe, behavioral health disorders have, historically, impacted the lives of 1 in 4 people. Social unrest and a global pandemic in 2020 have only increased these numbers, and the demand for behavioral health providers has grown as stress, anxiety and trauma persist.
Even as millions of COVID-19 vaccinations are now being administered every day, stressors impacting mental health will continue to affect people's lives. Providers and insurers must begin the shift from being reactive to proactive as they look toward the future of behavioral health. Improved relationships between behavioral health and primary-care providers can open the door for more opportunities to coordinate care and improve patients' quality of life.
This goes beyond referrals and consultations, but rather a collaborative approach to health and wellness across all stages of the care continuum. This can range from providers seeking advice or confirmation on a patient's behavioral health needs during early screenings, to a coordinated treatment plan that considers both physical and mental health. As an insurer, Centene and others can serve as a bridge between providers to foster collaboration and develop care plans that serve the whole health of patients.
While much of the integration between behavioral health and primary care has occurred in a brick-and-mortar clinical setting, the pandemic has demonstrated the value of virtual care. Whether it's accommodating patients who are not as comfortable returning to doctors' offices or reaching inaccessible patients, especially in rural areas, telehealth has proven to be an essential medium for delivering healthcare—and behavioral health is critical to a strong telehealth strategy. In fact, during the pandemic, behavioral health providers delivered up to 80% of care virtually.
With this in mind, telebehavioral health (teleBH) must also be a priority for payers. By improving access, maintaining quality, easing provider overhead and evolving national and state policy, teleBH can be a catalyst for improving the mental well-being of the population.
As the largest Medicaid managed-care organization in the country, Centene is committed to responding to community needs and supporting our provider partners. Through teleBH, we have the potential to connect members with providers in a manner that erases geographical barriers to obtaining care when specialty needs exist, and removes challenges such as lack of transportation, coordination of childcare, or social stigma.
This is not to say, however, that telehealth is immune to limitations. As COVID-19 has highlighted, the growing digital divide influences the ability of certain populations to access and engage in virtual care. For example, 26% of individuals with Medicare coverage lack either a computer with high-speed internet or a smartphone with a data plan.
For these reasons, Centene and other payers can look to implement strategies that ensure high-quality, effective services and opportunities are offered to members who may struggle with TeleBH accessibility. Payers must also consider the impacts of teleBH on providers. Although it is very encouraging that teleBH has led to reduced no-show rates for providers and increased member engagement with treatment, individual therapists risk burnout due to fewer breaks throughout the day for administrative duties or time to decompress, and may feel isolated from peers if working remotely.
Knowing this, payers have a responsibility to partner closely with providers to create a telehealth model that prioritizes both the physical and mental health of providers, as well as patients. This can be done through supporting continued provider education, self-assessment, and attention to their own care needs.
The unprecedented demand and dependency upon behavioral healthcare has been well-documented during the past year. Therefore, we cannot look ahead to the future of the healthcare delivery system without increased collaboration for providers and a focus on teleBH. To ensure future success, payers and providers alike need to prioritize partnerships to ensure effective delivery of treatment so the best care possible is received by members.
