As we look at the progress we have made in health care we also need to advance parity in mental health.
David Wennberg, M.D., CEO of Quartet Health shares what we can expect to see in 2020:
1. Leaders in business, technology and health care will be more open about sharing their stories of mental health care journey:
The conversation about mental health care has evolved and leaders are sharing their experiences with mental health.
Cultural leaders like Kevin Love and Prince Harry have used the power of narrative to shed light on the importance of open and honest dialogues about mental health, including reducing stigma around care. Business leaders like Aetna President Karen Lynch and AdventHealth CEO Daryl Tol have shared their own stories.
2. Medial providers will include mental health screenings as part of standard practice. Thus, more patients with mental health conditions will be brought into the care continuum:
Mental health will be incorporated into preventive care. As health care providers talk with their patients about mental health, patients will get more support. People who need mental health care will be identified and connected with the needed resources.
3. At the state level, providers, payers and regulators will recognize the value in reimbursing for telemental healthcare to support access:
There is provider shortage in mental health care. Telehealth can serve as an effective modality to address this shortage, particularly in rural America.
4. Health insurance plans will increase mental health reimbursements:
Health insurance companies know people need better access to mental health care. They will begin to reward providers for the care they provide. Plans that move slower on this front will be pushed to move faster by their employer customers.
5. The early foundation of value-based care models for mental health will emerge:
The shift from fee-for-service to a value-based healthcare, has focused more on physical health. This year there will be advancements to define quality mental health care and how to measure those domains and ultimately how to build networks that reflect best practices. Patients will be empowered to choose providers who are accessible, affordable and are experienced. Providers will be rewarded on the basis of quality, not quantity.