Oklahoma is transforming its approach to treating and preventing mental health problems. The evidence for this change is abundant. In March, state and local leaders broke ground on a new $70 million, 106-bed mental hospital in Tulsa. From Oklahoma, he has received nearly 40,000 calls to 988 (a three-digit lifeline that anyone can call for help with mental health issues at any time) since it opened last July. I was. And communities across the state are committing millions of dollars in local funds to launch new mental health services and resources for the most vulnerable residents.
This unprecedented level of investment has created a tremendous impetus for improving mental health outcomes in the state. To maintain this momentum, we must continue to remove the barriers that too many Oklahomans face in accessing care.
For the more than 2 million Oklahomans with private health insurance, finding a behavioral health provider in the network within a reasonable amount of time remains a persistent barrier. In a recent survey of licensed behavioral health providers conducted by the Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, 23% of practicing psychiatrists said it would take them one to three months to get an appointment.
Governor Kevin Stitt signed into law two of the most powerful reforms in the nation this year to address the “ghost network” problem. A ghost network is an insurance plan that looks solid on paper but includes providers that are inaccessible or non-existent. Such networks typically force patients to wait months for care, to pay high costs to outside providers, or not to receive care at all. You can
Senate Bill 442 addresses high patient costs and excessive wait times for appointments by ensuring the accuracy of a directory of commercial health plans for health care providers in the network. Senate Bill 254 caps out-of-pocket costs for consumers who take private insurance if their insurer is unable to timely arrange an appointment with an in-network provider. These bills made clear that most of the behavioral health care providers listed in the health plan directory were not reachable, physically connected to the network, or unable to book appointments in a timely manner. It addresses key takeaways from a report Healthy Minds released earlier this year. .
We commend Senator Jessica Garvin, Rep. John Michael Montgomery, Rep. Chris Snead and Rep. Jeff Boatman for their leadership in tackling this issue. Oklahomans with private health insurance should be prepared to hold their insurance companies accountable when the new law takes effect Nov. 1. The Oklahoma Department of Insurance’s Consumer Assistance Division provides resources and support for consumers in resolving issues with insurance companies.
The biggest opportunity ahead of Oklahoma is to expand the size and reach of the state’s behavioral health workforce. We are facing a severe shortage of key professionals, and it is projected to get worse if left unchecked. According to the Oklahoma Legislative and Financial Transparency Office, the number of mental health degrees awarded by Oklahoma institutions of higher education in 2021 will be the lowest in a decade. And a study published in the journal Psychiatric Services of the American Psychiatric Association found that by 2024, the number of psychiatrists leaving the profession will be more than double that of new psychiatrists. .
Earlier this year, Congress created two new Behavioral Health Career Development Funds to retain existing professionals and support clinicians looking to advance their careers. However, he has only been allocated one fund, leaving the full potential of these workforce development tools untapped. Several lawmakers have called for an interim investigation into behavioral health workers in Oklahoma. We encourage legislative leaders to take this issue seriously and seek innovative financing solutions to foster growth in high-need occupations.
By investing in developing, retaining, and recruiting behavioral health providers, the state can sustain mental health momentum and improve the availability and accessibility of services that benefit all Oklahoma residents. can.
Zach Stoikoff is executive director of the Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, a policy think tank dedicated to improving mental health in Oklahoma.
