Access to health care goes beyond just having financial coverage - it’s also about being able to find and reach the right providers. As of December 2023, over 168 million people were living in areas officially recognized as having a shortage of mental health professionals. While the Affordable Care Act has helped expand coverage for mental health services through parity provisions, real-world challenges remain. Many people struggle to find in-network providers, and there are still significant cost differences between primary care and mental health care. These barriers are making the provider shortage even worse, leaving millions without the mental health support they need.
Mission Connection carried out a study analyzing 5 years of County Health Rankings data to identify which states and counties across the U.S. have seen the most significant growth or reduction in the number of mental health care providers, shedding light on regions where access has improved or worsened.
Uneven Gains: County- Level Insights While state-level data reveals broad trends, examining the numbers at the county level brings critical disparities into sharper focus. Some counties have experienced remarkable growth in mental health provider availability, while others continue to struggle with severe shortages - or even declines.
