Mental health services used by adults on Medicaid declined by more than 20% last year, according to the latest data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Data from March through Oct. 2020 showed that utilization of mental health services for adult Medicaid beneficiaries declined by 22% when compared to the same time period in 2019. That accounts for about 12 million fewer mental health services used by adults, according to the agency.
Data also revealed that telehealth use skyrocketed 2,700% in 2020 when compared to previous years.
“While we’re encouraged that people are accessing some health care services at pre-pandemic levels, there is work to do to connect people to mental healthcare services and to ensure we fill the gap in other types of services that was caused by the pandemic,” CMS Acting Administrator Liz Richter said in a statement.
The decline in the use of mental health services comes after new research has shown the COVID-19 has placed severe stress on older adults.
Data has shown seniors reporting symptoms of anxiety or a depressive disorder shot up along with COVID-19 case counts, peaking at 36% in August 2020, and 42% in February 2021.
