In last year’s trends article, we outlined the need for organizations to transition away from fee-for-service care to value-based care models. This trend remains top-of-mind for behavioral healthcare patients in 2022, and we continue to see more behavioral and mental healthcare organizations consider changing their care model in 2022 and beyond. 

Behavioral healthcare patients’ care costs 2 to 3 times more than for a patient without a mental or behavioral health diagnosis, so the transition to value-based care is extremely appealing. There are two major benefits: the potential savings associated with value-based care; and the opportunity for health plans and insurers to correct this inequitable and inaccessible care model for mental healthcare patients.

Such a change is considered imperative, given the potential collapse of the behaviural and mental healthcare system under the load of the “crisis within a crisis.” This is due to a lack of mental healthcare providers; 63 percent of all counties in the United States have a shortage of psychiatrists. It’s also due to exacerbated issues associated with mental healthcare costs, like high-premiums, co-pays, and out-of-pocket expenses that are insurmountable barriers to receiving care for patients. 

One way to begin confronting this issue in 2022 is by “aligning on metrics that matter.” Organizations, insurers, leaders, and government can begin by aligning reimbursement metrics to outcomes metrics, like utilization. This way, providers can focus on treating a patient long-term while showing success metrics to encourage patient retention and completion rates. A recent study even shows that value-based care for mental healthcare results in over $204 million in cost savings and over 75% improvement for patients. Clearly, moving to a value-based care model has its benefits, and for the sake of this system, it’s paramount that organizations start making the change.