Mental health care access in the United States has historically faced a barrage of challenges: provider shortages, low reimbursement rates, confusing insurance coverage, and high rates of patients going without care. But new data from AHIP (America’s Health Insurance Plans) suggests that the tide may finally be starting to turn. According to AHIP’s latest survey, the number of in-network behavioral health providers grew by a staggering 48% over the past three years, a clear sign that commercial insurers are embracing a new level of commitment to mental health and substance use treatment. This shift signals a broader, more intentional behavioral health provider network expansion effort aimed at closing long-standing care gaps.
The results represent not just progress—but a potentially transformative moment for behavioral health access in America.
Survey Overview and Context
The AHIP survey was conducted between May and June of 2022 and included responses from health plans collectively covering 95 million Americans. The respondents span both individual market and employer-sponsored group plans, giving the findings weight across a wide spectrum of coverage types.
Though AHIP did not disclose how many insurers participated or which plans were included, the numbers point to industry-wide momentum toward improving mental health care accessibility.
Among the topline findings:
- The overall ratio of in-network behavioral health providers reached 1,851 per 100,000 enrollees
- Facility-based options have grown as well, with 15 inpatient psychiatric hospitals and 37 residential/inpatient facilities now available per 100,000 members
- Compared to three years ago, these numbers reflect a 40% increase in psychiatric hospitals and a 34% increase in residential treatment centers
These gains reflect a significant, measurable behavioral health provider network expansion, and they come at a time when the need for behavioral health services has never been more urgent.
COVID-19 as a Catalyst for Behavioral Health Reform
The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t just stress the physical healthcare system—it created a seismic shift in mental health worldwide. Isolation, grief, job losses, and social upheaval converged to worsen psychological well-being on a global scale.
According to a study published in The Lancet, the pandemic led to 53.2 million new cases of major depressive disorder and 76.2 million new cases of anxiety disorders globally. In the U.S., demand for mental health services spiked in every demographic, and commercial insurers had little choice but to respond.
Insurers were not alone in this response. Government agencies, private equity firms, and venture-backed startups also turned their attention to behavioral health. In 2021, mergers and acquisitions in the behavioral health space increased by 33%, and mental health became a political and economic priority across federal and state governments.
This broader movement has created fertile ground for initiatives like AHIP’s reported behavioral health provider network expansion, setting the stage for sustained, systemic improvements.
What’s Driving the Network Expansion?
AHIP’s report highlighted several factors behind the network growth:
- 78% of plans increased reimbursement rates for behavioral health providers to help attract more high-quality professionals
- 83% are working to diversify their provider networks
- 89% are actively expanding their behavioral health networks
Increased reimbursement is especially notable. For years, mental health providers have cited low pay from insurance companies as a major reason for staying out-of-network. Some providers report that mental health reimbursements are often 20–30% lower than comparable medical services. The increase in rates suggests a growing recognition from insurers that financial incentives are central to successful provider recruitment—and thus, to meaningful behavioral health provider network expansion.
This is more than a logistical adjustment; it’s a philosophical shift.
Addressing Systemic Challenges
Kate Berry, AHIP’s senior vice president of clinical affairs and strategic partnerships, acknowledged the complexity of the challenge:
“While a lot of work has been done, health insurance providers recognize the need to address systemic challenges. This can only be accomplished by all health care stakeholders working collaboratively to ensure Americans have affordable access to the high-quality mental health support they deserve.”
Her statement underscores that insurers can’t solve this problem alone. Collaboration with clinicians, state regulators, hospital systems, digital health startups, and policymakers will be crucial to sustaining and scaling the behavioral health provider network expansion.
Growth in Specific Provider Segments
The survey provided deeper insights into which provider segments are seeing the most rapid inclusion in commercial insurance networks.
- Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) providers saw a 135% increase
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) providers increased by 114%
These two areas have been at the forefront of recent industry investments. Numerous digital health startups have entered the MAT space, fueled by venture capital interest and rising demand for virtual addiction recovery services. This has helped facilitate a more distributed provider network and enhanced reach.
At the same time, more traditional specialties like psychologists (11%), psychiatrists (21%), and child/adolescent psychiatrists (19%) are growing more slowly. These roles often require extensive education and training, and many providers choose to remain out-of-network, especially in private practice. These slow growth rates highlight one of the remaining challenges in achieving complete behavioral health provider network expansion.
Facility-Based Treatment Growth
Beyond individual providers, AHIP’s data showed growth in facility-based care options as well. Inpatient psychiatric hospitals and residential treatment centers grew by 40% and 34% respectively.
While these figures are lower than provider-level growth, they signal that insurers are also beginning to acknowledge the importance of higher levels of care for patients with acute needs.
This is crucial, as individuals with serious mental illness often cycle through emergency rooms and jails due to a lack of appropriate placement options. Expanding access to facility-based care plays a key role in reducing these negative outcomes and in building a more comprehensive behavioral health system.
Improving the Patient Experience
A less talked-about but equally important aspect of the AHIP findings relates to how plans are helping members navigate care. Eighty-three percent of plans said they help enrollees find available behavioral health appointments, a critical improvement in the face of so-called “phantom networks.”
Inaccurate provider directories have long plagued the insurance industry, with some listings including providers who are no longer practicing, have full panels, or never accepted the insurance in the first place. This leads to frustration, delayed care, and sometimes out-of-pocket spending that could have been avoided.
Assisting patients in finding real-time availability and ensuring access is not just good service—it’s essential to the success of any behavioral health provider network expansion.
Digital Health’s Role in Expansion
AHIP also reported that 100% of surveyed insurers offer access to digital mental health services. This includes teletherapy, online coaching, app-based CBT programs, and virtual psychiatric consultations.
Digital solutions are rapidly becoming a cornerstone of behavioral health care delivery, especially for rural populations or those with transportation and scheduling barriers. Additionally, digital services offer scalable solutions to workforce shortages—enabling clinicians to reach more patients with fewer geographic constraints.
As part of the broader behavioral health provider network expansion, digital health opens up new channels for timely, affordable care—without the need for brick-and-mortar infrastructure.
What Comes Next?
Despite these positive trends, challenges remain. Workforce shortages in psychiatry, gaps in rural coverage, and racial and ethnic disparities in access continue to create barriers for millions of Americans.
Still, the 48% increase in in-network behavioral health providers over just three years is a powerful indication that insurers are adapting—possibly faster than ever before—to the needs of their members.
For these gains to translate into lasting transformation, health plans must continue investing in diversity, reimbursement reform, digital infrastructure, and transparent patient navigation tools.
Conclusion
The AHIP survey provides a clear snapshot of how insurers are stepping up to address the behavioral health crisis through behavioral health provider network expansion. As more stakeholders recognize the urgency of mental health reform, these network improvements represent a critical piece of the puzzle.
The work is far from done—but if these trends continue, Americans may finally start to experience a behavioral health system that feels responsive, accessible, and centered on their needs.
