GAO: Behavioral health providers report higher demand, decreasing staff size under COVID
Fierce Health Payers May 4, 2021
Data suggests that the prevalence of behavioral health conditions has increased under the pandemic, but in-person access to needed services has decreased in tandem, a new GAO report finds.
The Government Accountability Office reviewed survey data and interviewed regulators in four states. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the number of adults reporting symptoms of anxiety or depression averaged 38% between April 2020 and February 2021.
By comparison, about 11% of adults reported such symptoms between January and June 2019, the CDC found.
Two-thirds of behavioral health providers surveyed by the National Council for Behavioral Health said demand for their services was higher due to COVID, GAO found. However, 27% of NCBH member organizations reported...