Medicaid is the single largest payer for behavioral health services (ie, mental health and substance use disorder treatment) in the United States. More than 3 in every 10 enrollees have a diagnosed mental health condition, and many enrollees report inadequate access to care. For example, as of 2018, half of Medicaid enrollees with serious mental illnesses like psychosis or affective disorders reported unmet mental health care needs…. Nearly 80% of Medicaid enrollees are now covered by managed care organizations (MCOs), which are responsible for constructing networks of providers and facilities to deliver care to their enrollees.
Source:Medicaid Managed Care Organizations’ Experiences with Network Adequacy