Mental health care: Access challenges for covered consumers and relevant federal efforts : report to the Chairman, Committee on Finance, U.S. Senate

Mental health care: Access challenges for covered consumers and relevant federal efforts : report to the Chairman, Committee on Finance, U.S. Senate

Collection:
Health Policy and Services Research
Alternate Title(s):
Access challenges for covered consumers and relevant federal efforts: report to the Chairman, Committee on Finance, U.S. Senate
Contributor(s):
United States. Government Accountability Office, issuing body.
United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Finance, issuing body.
Publication:
Washington, DC : United States Government Accountability Office, March 2022
Language(s):
English
Format:
Text
Subject(s):
Government Regulation
Insurance Benefits -- statistics & numerical data
Insurance Coverage -- economics
Insurance Selection Bias
Mental Health Services -- organization & administration
United States
Genre(s):
Technical Report
Abstract:
Why GAO did this study. Mental health conditions affect a substantial number of adults in the U.S. In 2020, an estimated 53 million adults in the U.S. (21 percent) had any mental illness and 14 million adults (5.6 percent) had serious mental illness. Despite the need for services to treat mental health conditions, there have been longstanding concerns in the U. S. about the availability of these services. Additionally, although many consumers have coverage for mental health services through their public or private health plans, having such coverage does not guarantee access. This report describes (1) the challenges consumers with coverage for mental health care services experience with accessing those services and (2) ongoing and planned federal efforts to address these challenges. To conduct this work, GAO interviewed federal officials and representatives from 29 stakeholder organizations representing consumers, health plans, providers, insurance regulators, and mental health and Medicaid agencies. These included national organizations and organizations from four states— Connecticut, Oregon, South Carolina, and Wisconsin—selected based on mental health metrics and geographic variation, among other factors. GAO also reviewed relevant reports obtained from these agencies and organizations and reviewed academic and industry research focused on consumer access to mental health care. DOL and HHS provided technical comments, which GAO incorporated as appropriate.
Copyright:
The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
Extent:
1 online resource (1 PDF file (ii, 34 pages))
NLM Unique ID:
9918434585506676 (See catalog record)
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918434585506676