| Editor’s Note: Behavioral Health shortages raise expenses and illustrate how independent review services improve workflow and staffing issues. For our white paper on the leveraging the value of Peer Review (HERE) services for organizational improvements. |
Health systems dealing with clinical coverage for behavioral health care raises concerns in most of the media during recent years.e Expenses
“The shortage of psychiatrists isn’t just a New York State issue, it’s national.” – Cara Thomas for twcnews.com 12/27/2016
While clinical settings struggle with the high demand for behavioral health professionals, how can providers manage administrative BH case reviews? How can payers hope to effectively handle the expected flood of behavioral health claims?
“…most systems across the country is grappling with huge unmet mental health needs among its clientele, has run into a major stumbling block. There aren’t enough psychiatrists and counselors to meet the burgeoning demand for services. The shortage is projected to grow acute over the next decade, according to a recent analysis by the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration.” – Steven Ross Johnson for modernhealthcare.com 12/31/2016
No denying patient care needs to drive the shortage conversations, but consider the impact of organizations freeing additional financial resources through administration efficiencies. They may redirect the unspent expenses to solving the clinical shortages.
BH Shortages Raise Expenses
The amount of saved expenses can add up after Finance Departments consider the staff expenses for recruiting and training, etc. etc.
Investing in frontline BH clinicians without gearing up for the paperwork in flux means a potentially significant drop in the net revenue needed to cover the added BH staff because of lowered or delayed reimbursements.
Using an independent physician advisory and peer review service organization with the largest behavioral health reviewer network gives payers and providers the best chance to recuperate any investments in clinical BH resources.
The patient, as well as all other stakeholders, benefit when care built on evidence-based medical necessity criteria connects with administrative processes that maximizes efficiencies.
Behavioral Health shortages raise expenses and illustrate how independent review services improve workflow and staffing issues. For our white paper on the leveraging the value of Peer Review (HERE) services for organizational improvements.
