The demand for behavioral health services has grown significantly since 2019, and the system is not keeping up.1
Behavioral health conditions such as depression and anxiety cause an estimated 12 billion lost workdays per year, costing employers $1 trillion dollars annually.2
Studies show more than 15 million people in the U.S. have unmet behavioral health needs,3 and half of U.S. counties do not have a practicing psychiatrist.4 In Minnesota alone, 80 percent of counties are designated as mental health service shortage areas.5 When it comes to youth mental health, 80% of children who require treatment are not able to see a behavioral healthcare provider.6
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is determined to change that.
Since 2019, the Blue Cross behavioral health network has increased by 55%.7
Behavioral health accounts for an estimated 57% of healthcare spend.8
For more information on how we can help you support your employees’ behavioral health, contact your Blue Cross account manager or give us a call at 1-855-403-6564.
Access
Expanding behavioral healthcare access
We’re investing heavily in behavioral health to eliminate barriers to care and drive down costs by zeroing in on four key areas:
SVG
General access
SVG
Specialty condition access
SVG
Rural access
SVG
Youth access
Hear Vice President of Behavioral Health and Mental Health Parity, Brett Hart, outline specific interventions we’re implementing to increase access and meet individual needs across these four pillars.
Behavioral health programs
Your employees can access behavioral health programs designed to meet individual needs
Conveners
Conveners, also called management service organizations, expand behavioral healthcare access by supporting the administrative burden for independent providers who would otherwise be out of network.
Conveners also offer simple online scheduling and increase the equity of offerings across demographics to help members find clinicians who align with their personal preferences.
The Rural Behavioral Health Clinic
Located at Minnesota State University, Mankato
Community-based outpatient behavioral health center made possible by Blue Cross, expanding access to in-person and virtual care, with guaranteed prompt care for urgent youth needs.
First-of-its-kind training clinic aims to increase the number of behavioral healthcare providers by training the next generation of professionals.
Included Health
Personalized virtual care
Identity-affirming care for LGBTQ+ and Black members.
Virtual visits with a psychiatrist or psychologist available by appointment through Doctor on Demand.
Peer Support Specialists
Non-clinical support from trained peer specialists who have lived experiences with the same conditions as members, including substance use disorders.
Proven to help improve quality of life, reduce the likelihood of relapse, and increase engagement with other healthcare services.9
Learn to Live
Online program to address substance use, stress, insomnia, depression, social anxiety, panic or resilience.
Learn to Live is a cognitive behavioral therapy program to help identify problems, understand how the mind works, then learn and practice ways to deal with the issues.
National youth initiatives
Partnership of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and Boys and Girls Club of America to implement trauma-informed practices in more than 5,000 clubs by 2026.
This $10 million investment helps train more than 48,000 staff to better support the emotional and mental wellbeing of children.
1 "Trends Shaping the Health Economy: Behavioral Health," Trilliant Health, March 2023.
2 "Mental Health at Work," World Health Organization, September 2, 2024.
3 "Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States. Results from 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health." Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). March 2023.
4 "A Growing Psychiatrist Shortage and an Enormous Demand for Mental Health Services," Association of American Medical Colleges, August 2022.
5 "Rural Health Care in Minnesota: Data Highlights," Division of Health Policy, November 2023.
6 "Many Children Lack Access to Mental Health Care," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, November 30, 2017.
7 "Access to Mental Health Support Is Growing as Blues Add Providers," Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, October 20, 2023.
8 Davenport S, Gray TJ, Melek S, "How Do Individuals With Behavioral Health Conditions Contribute to Physical and Total Healthcare Spending?" Milliman Research Report, August 13, 2020.
9 "Evidence for Peer Support," Mental Health America, May 2019.
Convener providers available for Minnesota residents on any employer-sponsored Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan, with access for non-Minnesota resident members coming in 2025.
Included Health is an independent company providing guidance for healthcare services.
Doctor On Demand (R) by Included Health is an independent company providing telehealth services.
Learn to Live, Inc. is an independent company offering online tools and programs for behavioral health support. Learn to Live is an educational program and should not be considered medical treatment.
The Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® Association is an association of independent Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plans.