55% Of Behavioral Health Professionals Accepted New Appointments For Medicare Or Medicaid Beneficiaries, With A 30-Day Wait For Many, A Survey States 

About 55% of behavioral health professionals serving Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries accepted new appointments in 2023, according to a federal survey report. However, 24% reported wait times of more than 30 days for a new appointment. About 5% had wait times of 90 days or longer for a new appointment. The percentage of health care providers with long wait times to accept new consumers enrolled in traditional Medicare, a Medicare Advantage plan, or in a Medicaid managed care plan varied by payer type.;;

Addressing the workforce shortage of behavioral health professionals in Medicare and Medicaid could improve beneficiary . . .