How policymakers innovate around behavioral health: adoption of the New Mexico “No Behavioral Health Cost-Sharing” law

Samantha J. Harris; Ezra Golberstein; Johanna Catherine Maclean; Bradley D. Stein; Susan L. Ettner; Brendan Saloner

doi:10.1093/haschl/qxad081

How policymakers innovate around behavioral health: adoption of the New Mexico “No Behavioral Health Cost-Sharing” law

Samantha J. Harris
, Ezra Golberstein
, Johanna Catherine Maclean
, Bradley D. Stein
, Susan L. Ettner
, Brendan Saloner

Health Policy and Management

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

State policymakers have long sought to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) treatment through insurance market reforms. Examining decisions made by innovative policymakers (“policy entrepreneurs”) can inform the potential scope and limits of legislative reform. Beginning in 2022, New Mexico became the first state to eliminate cost-sharing for MH/SUD treatment in private insurance plans subject to state regulation. Based on key informant interviews (n = 30), this study recounts the law's passage and intended impact. Key facilitators to the law's passage included receptive leadership, legislative champions with medical and insurance backgrounds, the use of local research evidence, advocate testimony, support from health industry figures, the severity of MH/SUD, and increased attention to MH/SUD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings have important implications for states considering similar laws to improve access to MH/SUD treatment.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	qxad081
Journal	Health Affairs Scholar
Volume	2
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/haschl/qxad081
State	Published - Jan 1 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Project HOPE - The People-To-People Health Foundation, Inc.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

Keywords

MHPAEA
Medicaid Maintenance of Eligibility Public Health Emergency expiration
Multiple Streams Framework
access to mental health and substance use treatment
behavioral health cost-sharing
private insurance
public policy analysis

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10.1093/haschl/qxad081

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abstract = "State policymakers have long sought to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) treatment through insurance market reforms. Examining decisions made by innovative policymakers (“policy entrepreneurs”) can inform the potential scope and limits of legislative reform. Beginning in 2022, New Mexico became the first state to eliminate cost-sharing for MH/SUD treatment in private insurance plans subject to state regulation. Based on key informant interviews (n = 30), this study recounts the law's passage and intended impact. Key facilitators to the law's passage included receptive leadership, legislative champions with medical and insurance backgrounds, the use of local research evidence, advocate testimony, support from health industry figures, the severity of MH/SUD, and increased attention to MH/SUD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings have important implications for states considering similar laws to improve access to MH/SUD treatment.",

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AU - Saloner, Brendan

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How policymakers innovate around behavioral health: adoption of the New Mexico “No Behavioral Health Cost-Sharing” law

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

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