From increased demand and provider mergers to the expansion of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) and growth of whole person and hybrid care, the Behavioral Health market is experiencing a significant increase in the size and complexity of providing services, requiring providers to adapt to fast-changing conditions.
As Behavioral Health Gets Bigger…
The growth in demand for Behavioral Health Services that started pre-COVID increased significantly during the Pandemic and continues, with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) stating that the percentage of Americans under the age of 50 who reported having mental health issues has increased significantly since 2014.
The good news is funding for Behavioral Health is also increasing, with the federal government approving billions in spending in 2022 for areas such as Mental Health Block Grants, programs to combat the Opioid Epidemic, and the National Institute of Mental Health.
Increased demand and funding have brought deep pocket investors such as UnitedHealth Group’s Optum and new for-profit Behavioral Health Providers into the market and spurred consolidation among existing providers.
And The Need to Provide Complex Behavioral Health Services Grows…
At the same time, the complexity of providing Behavioral Health Services is increasing. Funding for, and the number of, CCBHCs continues to grow. According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, in 2022 there were more than 500 CCBHCs and CCBHC grantees in 49 states and territories, serving an estimated 2.1 million people. As more organizations become CCBHCs, they are required to meet the often complex requirements, including collecting over 30 quality metrics.
Both CCBHC and non-CCBHC organizations are focusing more on providing Whole Person Care (WPC). WPC involves the integration of physical health, behavioral health, and social services in a patient-centered manner to improve outcomes for individuals. Among other things, it requires Behavioral Health Providers to partner with physical health care and other organizations, track new metrics, and share more and different data within and among organizations.
Virtual care, or telehealth, has remained steady for Behavioral Health visits, which in 2022 accounted for almost 60% of all telehealth visits. While Behavioral Health Telehealth can help address inadequate access to care for mental health services, particularly in rural areas, it requires providers not only to develop an infrastructure that can support virtual care but also to determine which types of care are best delivered remotely and which are best delivered in-person.
Behavioral Health Providers Adapt
Behavioral Health Providers are adapting to the rapidly changing conditions to continue to provide quality care to those in need.
Both Behavioral Health Business and OPEN MINDS provide insights into evolving competitive market conditions and how providers are responding.
Information can be found here about how Behavioral Health Providers are responding to challenges related to CCBHCs, Whole Person Care, and Telehealth.
Streamline’s SmartCare™| An EHR to Meet Complex Provider Needs
Since 2003, Streamline has focused exclusively on the Behavioral Health and Human Services market. We understand that organizations in this market need more than just another Electronic Health Record (EHR) vendor. We are a trusted partner in building innovative technology solutions that empower people to improve the quality of life for those in need.
SmartCare™ is a true Enterprise EHR platform designed specifically for Behavioral Health and Human Services organizations with more complex needs. Its enterprise, cloud-based, single-platform, and intelligent technology empowers these organizations to improve effectiveness and quality of care. It is designed to handle the challenges and changing requirements of providing Behavioral Health and Human Services not just today but into the future, helping organizations to future-proof their success going forward.
Request a demo today and learn how SmartCare™ can support your organization.
