In Focus: Leveraging Technology to Expand Access to Behavioral Health Care for Medicaid Beneficiaries

Digital health innovators have begun leveraging telehealth tools as well as chatbots and other forms of artificial intelligence to engage Medicaid beneficiaries with behavioral health conditions — a group that accounts for a disproportionate share of spending. We describe how these digital tools are being deployed to retain patients in treatment, customize services to their needs, track outcomes, and provide feedback to physical health care providers.

Many digital health innovators cater to fitness and wellness buffs, leaving behind people coping with chronic conditions, those who have difficulty accessing services, and/or those who can’t afford the latest gadget. Many of those left behind are enrolled in Medicaid. This is in part because of the misconception that Medicaid...