Behavioral Health Care
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Shawn Billings
Vice President of Substance Use Programming
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Improving Behavioral Health Care in Missouri Hospitals
Hospital employees and health care advocates play a critical role in addressing behavioral health care gaps in Missouri. Many communities across the state lack adequate access to behavioral health providers and services, leaving hospitals to fill the gap in emergencies.
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Looking for more tools and insights on improving behavioral health care? MHA offers resources to help hospitals expand access, enhance crisis response and support mental health initiatives.
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Behavioral Health Provider Shortages in Missouri
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Missouri falls below the national average for behavioral health provider availability:
- 21.8% fewer psychiatrists than the national average
- 13.6% fewer psychologists than the national average
- 50 counties lack a psychiatrist
- 65 counties lack a psychologist
This shortage places increased strain on hospitals as front-line providers of behavioral health care.
The Organizational Toll of Behavioral Health Care Gaps
Many communities lack essential mental health professionals. In Missouri, 50 counties are without a psychiatrist and 65 counties are without a psychologist. This shortage places increased strain on hospitals as front-line providers of behavioral health care.
Between 2008 and 2017, emergency department visits for mental health-related disorders surged by 212% for Medicaid-managed care and 30% for Medicaid fee-for-service. As a result, individuals experiencing behavioral health crises frequently turn to hospital EDs, underscoring the urgent need for expanded access to mental health care services.
The Impact on Behavioral Health Provider Shortages
Hospitals currently face significant challenges in behavioral health care access, including:
- Providing timely treatment and stabilization for behavioral health emergencies
- Coordinating post-discharge placement to ensure continued care
- Managing patient transportation to appropriate behavioral health facilities
These challenges are especially prevalent among Missouri’s Medicaid population, with high utilization rates in Medicaid managed care plans driving increased demand for hospital-based behavioral health services.
Federal investments in expanding behavioral health services have helped reduce regional disparities in access, but hospitals remain on the front lines of care delivery. More work is needed to strengthen Missouri’s behavioral health system and ensure access to the right care at the right time.