Best Practices in Rural Medicaid Managed Behavioral Health: Measuring and Monitoring Access

OPEN MINDS, The Behavioral Health & Social Service Industry Analyst

Industry Analysis

Insufficient access to services is a recurring problem in rural health care. Geographic isolation, poverty, under-insurance, and a shortage of health care providers all characterize many rural areas in the Untied States today. Access to mental health care providers is often even more limited than access to primary and specialty medical care. Where cost often limits access to medical health care by the uninsured, the continuing lack of parity for mental health benefits means that even the insured . . .