Should Employers ‘Carve-Out’ Behavioral Health Benefits From Their Health Benefit Plans?

OPEN MINDS The Behavioral Health & Social Service Industry Analyst Pro & Con The popularity of ‘carve-out’ plans for behavioral health benefits appears to be growing. A ‘carved-out’ benefit plan is one where the benefit plan design and administration are separate from the rest of the health benefit plan. Most dental plans are managed in this way, for example. Recent articles in the trade press, and several behavioral health management companies present a viewpoint that a carve-out behavioral health plan is the only effective way to manage these expenditures. They maintain that a separate plan, with a . . .