---
title: Behavioral health costs keep rising — what's at stake for payers
image: https://go.beckershospitalreview.com/hubfs/site/beckers-healthcare-whitepaper-cta.png
---

[Skip to main content](https://go.beckershospitalreview.com/payerwp/behavioral-health-costs-keep-rising-whats-at-stake-for-payers#main)

- [BHR](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/)
- [Clinical](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/)
- [Health IT](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/)
- [CFO](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/)
- [ASC](https://www.beckersasc.com/)
- [Spine](https://www.beckersspine.com/)
- [Dental](https://www.beckersdental.com/)
- [Payer](https://www.beckerspayer.com/)
- [Behavioral](https://www.beckersbehavioralhealth.com/)
- [Physician](https://www.beckersphysicianleadership.com/)

More

- About
  
    - [About Becker’s](https://hubs.beckershealthcare.com/about)
    - [Careers](https://hubs.beckershealthcare.com/careers)
- For Sponsors
  
    - [Contact Us](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/contact-us/)
    - [Media Kit](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/request-media-kit/)
    - [Content Specs](https://hubs.beckershealthcare.com/content-specifications)
    - [MyBHC](https://my.beckershospitalreview.com/)

 Search

[Subscribe](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/subscribe/)

[![Becker's Payer Issues | Payer News](https://www.beckerspayer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/logo-payer.png)](https://www.beckerspayer.com/)

- Strategy
  
    - [Payer Issues](https://www.beckerspayer.com/payer/)
    - [Virtual Care](https://www.beckerspayer.com/virtual-care/)
- Leadership & Workforce
  
    - [Leadership](https://www.beckerspayer.com/leadership/)
    - [Executive Moves](https://www.beckerspayer.com/executive-moves/)
    - [Workforce](https://www.beckerspayer.com/workforce/)
- Policy
  
    - [Contracting](https://www.beckerspayer.com/contracting/)
    - [Policy Updates](https://www.beckerspayer.com/policy-updates/)

- Resources
  
    - [Live Webinars](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/webinar-types/upcoming-webinars/)
    - [OnDemand Webinars](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/webinar-types/ondemand-webinars/)
    - [Whitepapers](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/whitepapers/)
    - [Podcasts](https://www.beckerspodcasts.com/)
    - [Featured Content](https://conferences.beckershospitalreview.com/featured-content)
    - [Lists](https://conferences.beckershospitalreview.com/lists/7368520)
    - [Surveys](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/surveys/)
    - [Videos](https://conferences.beckershospitalreview.com/videos)
    - [Newsletters](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/newsletters/)
- Events
  
    - [Live Events](https://conferences.beckershospitalreview.com/upcoming-events)
    - [Virtual Events](https://conferences.beckershospitalreview.com/upcoming-events/virtual-event)

 Search for:

 Clear search

 Search

[![Becker's Payer Issues | Payer News](https://www.beckerspayer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/logo-payer.png)](https://www.beckerspayer.com/)

 Menu

[Subscribe](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/subscribe/)

 Search for:

 Clear search

 Search

- Strategy
  
    - [Payer Issues](https://www.beckerspayer.com/payer/)
    - [Virtual Care](https://www.beckerspayer.com/virtual-care/)
- Leadership & Workforce
  
    - [Leadership](https://www.beckerspayer.com/leadership/)
    - [Executive Moves](https://www.beckerspayer.com/executive-moves/)
    - [Workforce](https://www.beckerspayer.com/workforce/)
- Policy
  
    - [Contracting](https://www.beckerspayer.com/contracting/)
    - [Policy Updates](https://www.beckerspayer.com/policy-updates/)

- Resources
  
    - [Live Webinars](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/webinar-types/upcoming-webinars/)
    - [OnDemand Webinars](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/webinar-types/ondemand-webinars/)
    - [Whitepapers](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/whitepapers/)
    - [Podcasts](https://www.beckerspodcasts.com/)
    - [Featured Content](https://conferences.beckershospitalreview.com/featured-content)
    - [Lists](https://conferences.beckershospitalreview.com/lists/7368520)
    - [Surveys](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/surveys/)
    - [Videos](https://conferences.beckershospitalreview.com/videos)
    - [Newsletters](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/newsletters/)
- Events
  
    - [Live Events](https://conferences.beckershospitalreview.com/upcoming-events)
    - [Virtual Events](https://conferences.beckershospitalreview.com/upcoming-events/virtual-event)

 Site Switcher

- [BHR](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/)
- [Clinical](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/)
- [Health IT](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/)
- [CFO](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/)
- [ASC](https://www.beckersasc.com/)
- [Spine](https://www.beckersspine.com/)
- [Dental](https://www.beckersdental.com/)
- [Payer](https://www.beckerspayer.com/)
- [Behavioral](https://www.beckersbehavioralhealth.com/)
- [Physician](https://www.beckersphysicianleadership.com/)

- About
  
    - [About Becker’s](https://hubs.beckershealthcare.com/about)
    - [Careers](https://hubs.beckershealthcare.com/careers)
- For Sponsors
  
    - [Contact Us](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/contact-us/)
    - [Media Kit](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/request-media-kit/)
    - [Content Specs](https://hubs.beckershealthcare.com/content-specifications)
    - [MyBHC](https://my.beckershospitalreview.com/)

## Behavioral health costs keep rising — what's at stake for payers

---

Behavioral health care is under growing financial and operational strain.

Despite increased spending, fragmented care models, access challenges and fee-for-service structures continue to limit outcomes and drive unnecessary emergency visits and hospitalizations. Patients, providers and payers are left navigating disconnected systems that hinder coordinated care.

The impact is significant. Individuals with serious mental illness, substance use disorder and autism spectrum disorder face higher medical costs, repeated acute events and gaps in follow-up care, while many still encounter barriers to timely treatment.

A different approach is emerging.

This report outlines how integrated, value-based care models align incentives, improve engagement and reduce avoidable utilization by connecting behavioral, medical and social supports within a coordinated system.

**Download the report to learn:**

- How fragmented delivery drives higher costs, with behavioral health populations incurring 2.8x to 6.2x greater medical spend
- Why integrated, value-based models are gaining traction — increasing treatment engagement while reducing inpatient admissions and ED visits
- Where access breaks down, as more than 75% of individuals who needed care but did not receive it say they would still benefit
- What leading approaches are doing differently to enable earlier intervention and more sustainable outcomes

 

Please fill out the form to download the whitepaper. 

This whitepaper is designed for leaders of health plans, payviders, accountable care organizations, and clinically integrated networks.

[![Becker's Payer Issues | Payer News](https://www.beckerspayer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/logo-payer.png)](https://www.beckerspayer.com/)

### Contact Us

[1-800-417-2035](tel:180041720354)

[becker@beckershealthcare.com](mailto:becker@beckershealthcare.com)

- [RSS Feed](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/rss-feeds/)
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/asc-communications/)
- [X](https://x.com/beckersasc)
- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beckers-ASC-Review/85636754764)

### Other Becker’s Sites

- [Hospital](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/)
- [ASC](https://www.beckersasc.com/)
- [Spine](https://www.beckersspine.com/)
- [Dental](https://www.beckersdental.com/)
- [Behavioral](https://www.beckersbehavioralhealth.com/)
- [Physician](https://www.beckersphysicianleadership.com/)

### More Resources

- [Events](https://conferences.beckershospitalreview.com/upcoming-events/)
- [Whitepapers](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/whitepapers/)
- [Live Webinars](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/webinar-types/upcoming-webinars/)
- [OnDemand Webinars](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/webinar-types/ondemand-webinars/)

Copyright © 2026 Becker’s Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. [Privacy Policy](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/privacy-policy/). [Cookie Policy](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/cookie-policy/). [Linking and Reprinting Policy](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/uncategorized/linking-and-reprinting-policy/). | [Employee Access](https://mhq-ep.prismhr.com/)

![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1151078721744405&ev=PageView&noscript=1) ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=1310345&fmt=gif)