![]() 4,14,15 Directory errors and inadequate networks also impose financial risks to consumers when consumers knowingly seek care outside of their network because there is not adequate access to in-network care. 13 But even more concerningly, the inability to locate an accessible in-network provider may lead to delayed or foregone care. Most obviously, there is the time-intensive administrative burden of combing through faulty directory entries and calling offices to find in-network doctors. Given the vital role that provider directories and provider networks play in connecting consumers to care, inaccurate provider directories and inadequate provider networks may potentially harm both the health and the financial well-being of consumers. 9-11 Yet, 2 potential barriers to accessing mental health care-the interlinked issues of inaccurate provider directories and inadequate provider networks-remain underassessed. 7,8 Highlighting the lack of access, consumers are substantially more likely to see an out-of-network provider for mental health care than for other types of care. 4 However, although a variety of statutory changes in the past 2 decades has expanded mental health coverage requirements, consumer access to mental health services remains limited, 1,2,5,6 a situation that has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. 1-3 It is established that lack of access to these services may impose significant individual and societal costs. Mental health services have long been an afterthought in the US health care system, with lack of care compounding the stigmatization and exclusion that individuals struggling with mental health issues face. Although California’s laws and regulations are some of the strongest in the country, they are still falling short, indicating the need to further expand efforts to protect consumers. Moreover, plans were highly limited in providing timely access to urgent care and general appointments, although Medi-Cal plans outperformed plans from both other markets when it came to timely access.Ĭonclusions: These findings are concerning from both the consumer and regulatory perspectives and provide further evidence of the tremendous challenge that consumers face in accessing mental health care. Commercial plans were consistently more accurate than both Covered California marketplace and Medi-Cal plans. Results: We found that mental health provider directories are highly inaccurate. We used t tests to make comparison across markets. ![]() Methods: We used descriptive statistics to assess provider directory accuracy and network adequacy assessed via access to timely appointments. Study Design: We assessed provider directory accuracy and timely access using a novel, comprehensive, and representative data set of mental health providers for all plans regulated by the California Department of Managed Health Care with 1,146,954 observations (480,0 and 666,9). Objectives: To evaluate the accuracy of provider directories for mental health providers and network adequacy, defined as timely access to urgent and general care appointments in California.
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