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In July 2023, that indicated that health insurance providers were to blame for challenges in accessing mental health coverage. Matt Eyles, president and CEO of AHIP, issued this response.

Everyone deserves access to effective, affordable, and equitable mental health support and counseling, and health insurance providers are helping patients find the services they need at an affordable price. Good mental health is good health — period. That’s why we reject the notion raised in a recent questioning insurance providers’ commitment to mental health support.

We are advancing solutions, including expanding provider networks, increasing access to telehealth appointments, integrating mental health into primary care visits, and creating innovative programs to increase the number of mental health care practitioners available. We’re making progress — more people are getting the treatment they need — but with far more Americans seeking support, more needs to be done.

The shortage of mental health clinicians remains one of the biggest roadblocks. Today,  live in places with less than one mental health care provider for every 30,000 people. We have built innovative programs to expand capacity and increase the number of practitioners available, but it will take time for more providers to enter the system. 

This can work. Findings show 3-in-4 insured Americans (73%) found it easy to get the mental health care support they needed, and 9-in-10 are satisfied with their care. Other polls of employees show strong (88%) satisfaction with mental health care access (the vast majority of Americans get coverage through their employers).  

We will continue to work with policymakers and stakeholders to improve mental health access, value, and outcomes for every American. It’s too important not to.