Oklahomans with commercial health insurance have had a hard time finding mental health care, the report says

WHAT THE REPORT SUGGESTS WE DO ABOUT IT. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS HEALTHY MINDS SAYS THEY RAN INTO WAS PATIENTS NOT BEING ABLE TO REACH PROVIDERS EASILY. ABOUT 30% OF THE TIME, THE PHONE NUMBERS LISTED IN THE DIRECTORY WERE INACCURATE AND YOU WOULD GET A DEADLINE BEEPING IF YOU CALL THE PHONE LINE. ACCORDING TO HEALTHY MINDS, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA USE COMMERCIAL HEALTH INSURANCE INSTEAD OF PUBLICLY FUNDED HEALTH PROGRAMS. WE FOUND THAT THE PROVIDERS WHO ARE ACTIVE IN THE NETWORK ALSO STRUGGLED TO GET PATIENTS IN IN A TIMELY MANNER, WHICH MEANS THERE AREN’T ENOUGH OF THEM WHO ARE ACTIVE IN THE NETWORK. SO HE SAYS, OKLAHOMANS STRUGGLE TO GET THIS KIND OF CARE WITHOUT PAYING OUT OF POCKET COSTS. OKLAHOMANS ARE PAYING FOR RATES FOR THEIR INSURANCE. THEY’RE STILL PAYING OUT OF POCKET FOR PROVIDERS AND THEY’RE PAYING FOR A TAXPAYER PAYER FUNDED SYSTEM THAT IS HAVING TO REALLY FILL THE GAPS. THAT’S WHERE THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES COMES IN. THEY SAY THEY CAN STILL PROVIDE WHERE OTHERS ARE LACKING. I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW MANY FAMILIES I TALK TO WHERE I’VE BEEN ABLE TO LINK THEM TO OUR PROVIDERS IN OUR SYSTEM, BECAUSE WHEN WE’RE SET UP, IT DOESN’T MATTER YOUR ABILITY TO PAY, WE’RE ABLE TO GET YOU THOSE SERVICES. ALTHOUGH THEY SAY THE INSURANCE PROBLEMS CAUSE A STRAIN ON THEIR PROGRAMS TOO. WE HAVE RESOURCES STATEWIDE, BUT CERTAINLY NO PEOPLE AREN’T ABLE TO ACCESS AND AND INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE INSURANCE, BUT THEY AREN’T ABLE TO DO SO SERVICES. OBVIOUSLY, IT’S GOING TO BE A STRESSOR ON OTHER SYSTEMS THAT EXIST WITHIN THE STATE. THE DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD’T BE DISCOURAGED FROM ASKING FOR HELP. THEY SAY THEY’LL MAKE SU

The Healthy Minds Policy Initiative said patients seeking mental health treatment were not able to easily reach providers

Oklahomans with commercial health insurance may have a hard time finding mental health care, according to a policy group’s report. The Healthy Minds Policy Initiative said patients seeking mental health treatment were not able to easily reach providers. The group said the majority of Oklahomans use commercial health insurance instead of publicly funded health programs. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here. “About 30% of the time, the phone numbers listed in the directory were inaccurate, and you would get a deadline beeping if you called the phone line,” said Zack Stoycoff with Healthy Minds . “We found that the providers who are active in the network also struggle to get patients in a timely manner, which means there aren’t enough of them who are active in the network.” Stoycoff said Oklahomans struggled to get care without paying out- of-pocket costs. “Oklahomans are paying for rates for their insurance, they’re still paying out of pocket for providers, and they’re paying for a taxpayer-funded system that is having to really fill the gaps,” said Stoycoff. Jeff Dismukes with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services said they can provide services where others are lacking. >> Download the KOCO 5 App“I can’t tell you how many families I’ve talked to where I’ve been able to link them to our providers and our system because when we’re set up, it doesn’t matter your abilities to pay. We’re able to get you those services,” said Dismukes. However, these insurance problems have caused a strain on the department’s programs, as well. “We have resources statewide – but certainly when people aren’t able to access, and individuals have insurance, but they aren’t able to access those services – obviously it’s going to put a stressor on other systems that exist within the state,” said Dismukes. The department said people shouldn’t be discouraged from asking for help. They said they will make sure people get what they need and worry about paying later. Top HeadlinesOne person dead after the semitrailer crash on I-40 in Oklahoma CityCrews responded to numerous crashes Thursday morning due to icy roadsAP source: OKC trades Muscala to Boston for Jackson, picksOklahoma dog among 10 winners of BARK’s Next Top Dog Models ContestOKC humane society will let you put ex’s name on bottom of litter box for Valentine’s DayRoute 66 stop that served as a safe haven for decades could soon be open to Oklahoma travelers

OKLAHOMA CITY —

Oklahomans with commercial health insurance may have a hard time finding mental health care, according to a policy group’s report.

The Healthy Minds Policy Initiative said patients seeking mental health treatment were not able to easily reach providers. The group said the majority of Oklahomans use commercial health insurance instead of publicly funded health programs.

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.

“About 30% of the time, the phone numbers listed in the directory were inaccurate, and you would get a deadline beeping if you called the phone line,” said Zack Stoycoff with Healthy Minds. “We found that the providers who are active in the network also struggle to get patients in a timely manner, which means there aren’t enough of them who are active in the network.”

Stoycoff said Oklahomans struggle to get care without paying out-of-pocket costs.

“Oklahomans are paying for rates for their insurance, they’re still paying out of pocket for providers, and they’re paying for a taxpayer-funded system that is having to really fill the gaps,” said Stoycoff.

Jeff Dismukes with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services said they can provide services where others are lacking.

>> Download the KOCO 5 App

“I can’t tell you how many families I’ve talked to where I’ve been able to link them to our providers and our system because when we’re set up, it doesn’t matter your ability to pay. We’re able to get you those services,” said Dismukes.

However, these insurance problems have caused a strain on the department’s programs, as well.

“We have resources statewide – but certainly when people aren’t able to access, and individuals have insurance, but they aren’t able to access those services – obviously it’s going to put a stressor on other systems that exist within the state,” Dismukes said.

The department said people shouldn’t be discouraged from asking for help. They said they will make sure people get what they need and worry about paying later.

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