Workforce Shortages, Increased Demand for Treatment a Stressful Mix for Providers

A combination of increased demand for services and workforce shortages are creating a difficult environment for mental health and substance use treatment organizations to keep pace, according to data published this month by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

Demand for services has increased by nearly 80% over the past 3 months, according to a Morning Consult poll released by Natioinal Council. Specifically, demand for substance use treatment (up 27%), youth mental health and substance use treatment (36%), crisis services (37%), and social services (37%) are spiking.

Meanwhile, providers participating in the survey said they are struggling to recruit and retain employees; 97% said it has been difficult to recruit employees, with 78% saying it is “very difficult.” These challenges have created a shortage of workers that has resulted in longer wait lists for 62% of organizations surveyed and, in some cases, reduced service offerings.

“This crisis demands that we find solutions that allow clients to get the treatment they need and provide organizations the resources they require to attract and retain staff in a competitive marketplace,” National Council president and CEO Chuck Ingoglia said in a statement.

Providers said continued funding for telehealth services and increases in Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement rates would provide needed financial relief and allow for additional staff hires and service offerings. Ingoglia said in a news release that because reimbursement rates for mental health and substance use treatment services haven’t been revised in decades, they “don’t reflect the cost to provide the service,” an oversight that is harming small businesses, including mental health and substance use treatment providers.

Last week, National Council released separate data showing that the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic model has enabled clinics to hire more staff in response to surging demand for service, increasing the number of individuals receiving care by an average of 10% and reducing emergency department visits.