2025 SOA Health Meeting: Session 6D: Breaking Barriers - A Multidimensional Approach to Behavioral Healthcare Access -06.24.25- Recording

Access to behavioral healthcare is often oversimplified as a single-dimensional issue. In reality, it encompasses numerous dimensions, each presenting unique barriers. Unlike individuals seeking physical healthcare for acute conditions like appendicitis, those seeking behavioral healthcare may abandon their efforts when faced with obstacles. Unfortunately, the behavioral healthcare landscape is riddled with barriers stemming from a variety of systemic issues.>
>This session will examine the upstream causes of these barriers across five key dimensions and explore the interplay between mental and physical health access. Panelists will address the specific challenges associated with accessing mental health services within each dimension, offering insights at both state and federal levels.>
>Additionally, the session will provide complementary information to a recent JAMA case study to highlight evidence linking improved mental health access to near-term reductions in physical healthcare costs and its implications for annual premium pricing. Panelists will also delve into the future of mental health care, outlining the challenges that remain and the role actuaries can play in driving meaningful solutions.>