More people are using behavioral health services compared to a year ago, UnitedHealth Group executives said.
On a July 14 call with investors, transcribed by Seeking Alpha, UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty said the company has seen a rise in people seeking behavioral healthcare. The company is expanding its network of behavioral health providers through OptumHealth and adding benefit offerings.
"From our perspective it's an encouraging sign that more people are seeking help. Yet the ongoing shortage of qualified care providers has caused significant access challenges," Mr. Witty said.
Behavioral health is contributing to wider utilization trends, but outpatient procedures for Medicare Advantage members is the main driver of higher medical costs, executives said.
Wyatt Decker, MD, CEO of Optum Health, said more people are using behavioral healthcare across all populations.
"What's encouraging from a public health perspective is that it isn't strictly young people. It's across the board. We're seeing 30, 40, 50-year olds accessing behavioral healthcare for needed care for conditions like anxiety, depression, substance use disorder. And our commitment is to make sure that they have access to that care," Dr. Decker said.