Massachusetts insurers increase mental health spending
New England Council members and Massachusetts healthcare insurance companies, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Point32Health have reported the expansion of behavioral health services in response to the current mental health crisis.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has revealed that it doubled its spending on mental health services to $1.3 billion in 2022, compared to $610 million in 2019. The insurer also expanded its network of behavioral health clinicians by 50% over the past five years to meet increased demand. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the importance of mental well-being, with isolation, grief, and financial struggles leading to lasting effects. Point32Health has also seen significant increases in the utilization of mental health services, signaling a greater recognition of the need for behavioral health care.
“The silver lining of the pandemic is that more people realized that they needed behavioral health care,” said Jill Borrelli, vice president of behavioral health at Point32Health. “There was unmet need before the pandemic, and because we went through this communal traumatic event, there is also increased need.”
The New England Council would like to commend Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Point32Health for their commitment to increasing access to mental health services.
Read more from the Boston Globe.