?? Behavioral health utilization has grown 40% over the past four years which means more people are accessing #mentalhealth care. We know that high-quality mental health care shouldn't be a luxury—and we're working to ensure that it isn't. #WorldMentalHealthDay
Six years ago, I left One Medical, a fast-growing primary care company, to start Octave. I was drawn to this for many reasons, but a key one was the parallel I saw between primary care and mental health. Historically, primary care was often overlooked in the healthcare system—until health systems began to realize that PCPs have some of the deepest relationships with patients. I felt that mental health providers were even more undervalued and, yet, often build even stronger connections with those they serve. Today, I came across a surprising stat in Trilliant Health's 2024 Trends Shaping the Health Economy report: at the end of last year, there were as many behavioral health visits as primary care visits in the insurance system. Behavioral health utilization has grown 40% over the past four years, which is a positive sign of progress. It reflects how insurance companies and providers are collectively working to make mental health care more accessible. However, primary care utilization has dropped by 12%, with urgent care rising by 39%. This shift suggests that healthcare is becoming increasingly transactional. In my view, that’s not the direction we want to go. Our healthcare system benefits most from greater coordination, not less, and strong primary care relationships are essential for this.