Nearly 6 out of 10 in-network providers listed in Oregon's Medicaid provider directories are not currently seeing patients for mental healthcare needs, according to a new study from Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.
The study was released July 5 and described "phantom networks" as undermining critical access to mental healthcare in the state and potentially nationwide.
"If this represents the state of provider directories more broadly, that's a huge concern for patients," lead author Jane Zhu, MD, said. "If the majority of providers are not actually accessible, it leads to delays and interruptions in care and treatment that people need."
Dr. Zhu is an assistant professor of medicine at OHSU School of Medicine. She said the problem may be a result of administrative burdens on both payers and providers such as a change of location or a halt on accepting Medicaid patients, which can be hard to track.
The inaccurate networks may also have regulatory implications because many states rely on provider directories to monitor and measure access to care.
In another study published June 9, Dr. Zhu found 28 states have specific time and distance standards defined for mental and behavioral healthcare, and only 14 state Medicaid programs have separate access standards for the treatment of a substance use disorder.
"We simply need more mental health professionals to meet the demand," she said.