Understanding the Changing Payer Environment: Financing Trends in Behavioral Health & Social Services

OPEN MINDS, The Behavioral Health & Social Service Industry Analyst Industry Analysis With so many recent changes in the health and human service environment, how does an executive team make sense of it all and determine what to do? We think it helps to look at the environment as three simultaneously and synergistically changing (but unrelated and certainly uncoordinated) set of three market factors: Public and private payers and payment sources Financial and benefit management programs Treatment and service context, tools, and methodologies. The first is the easiest — it’s “the money.” Where does the funding come from to pay . . .