Readers Write: Leveraging the Power of Technology to Improve Behavioral Health

Leveraging the Power of Technology to Improve Behavioral Health
By Shana Hoffman

Shana Hoffman, MBA is CEO of Lucet.

We are living in an age of anxiety. Americans of all ages are increasingly struggling with their mental health. Half of young adults and one-third of all adults reported feeling anxious, either always or often in the past year, according to a 2022 survey. In 2023, 60 million Americans, roughly 23% of all adults, reported experiencing mental illness in the previous year.

Despite the growing need for care, millions of people are finding themselves without access to mental health treatment. The barriers they face in accessing behavioral health services are numerous and complex. Long wait times, a shortage of providers, geographical barriers, stigma, and cost all contribute to a system that is unable to meet the demand.

The shortage of mental health providers is a particularly acute problem. According to the American Psychology Association’s 2022 COVID-19 Practitioner Impact Survey, 60% of psychologists reported no openings for new patients. Nearly half of the US population in 2022 lived in a mental health workforce shortage area, with some states needing up to 700 more practitioners to close the gap.

The consequences of this inadequate access to care affect more than just individuals. On a micro level, insufficient healthcare access can impair a person’s ability to proactively manage their mental health challenges, leading to a worsening condition and potentially negative long-term health outcomes. On a macro level, unaddressed mental health issues can contribute to a range of problems, including homelessness, poverty, unemployment, and safety concerns. These have a cascading effect on the local,  and ultimately national, economies.

But there is hope. We may be living in an age of anxiety, but we are also living in an age of technology. Technology can help bridge the gap and improve access to behavioral healthcare. By using today’s advanced tools, we can address many of the barriers that have historically limited access to mental health services.

One of the most significant advantages of using technology in behavioral healthcare is its ability to improve access in areas where mental health resources are limited. Rural areas in particular have long struggled with a lack of mental health services. Tele-mental health services offer a solution for these patients, connecting them to the care they need regardless of their geographical location. Mental Health America reports that rural areas have 20% fewer primary care providers than urban areas, with 65% of rural counties lacking a psychiatrist and 81% without a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Technology can help close these gaps, ensuring that these rural patients are not left behind.

Technology offers flexibility, enabling patients to access care at times that fit their schedules to make it easier for them to commit to treatment. Technology also helps expedite the process of connecting individuals to care. Current average time between booking an appointment and a claims-confirmed connection is over 45 days, with some psychologists reporting wait times of three months or longer. Technology tools that quickly identify active, in-network providers who are accepting new patients can significantly reduce these wait times, ensuring that patients receive the care they need when they need it.

Providers benefit from technology-enabled care access as well. By giving patients more flexibility in how they access care, technology makes it easier for them to stick to their treatment plans over time, helping providers achieve better long-term results.

Most critically, technology can help address the issue of provider shortages by offering advanced and accurate insights into available care resources, minimizing the time it takes for providers and patients to connect, allowing for more efficient scheduling of treatment. By streamlining administrative tasks such as patient intake, documentation, and screening, technology can also help free up clinicians to spend more time on delivering care.

Use of technology can improve treatment adherence and expand access to care in underserved areas, leading to healthier populations and lower long-term costs for payers. Additionally, by improving the accuracy of provider directory management systems, technology can help eliminate “ghost networks” in which healthcare providers who are listed in a health plan’s network are not actually available to provide care. This not only enhances regulatory compliance, but also boosts member satisfaction.

Mental health technology solutions have enormous potential to increase access to care, enhance efficiency, and improve outcomes. To fully realize this potential, stakeholders must continue to invest in and support technological advancements in behavioral healthcare, because only then can we create a more equitable and effective behavioral healthcare system.