Access to Outpatient Mental Health Services in MA: Research Results & Promising Practices

The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation hosted an event on the topic of access to outpatient mental health services in Massachusetts. The event featured remarks by Secretary Marylou Sudders of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and a presentation from Abt Associates on the results of a never before released mixed-methods study to better understand access to outpatient mental health services in Massachusetts. The researchers discussed key study findings, which are based on interviews with stakeholders and consumer focus groups, as well as quantitative data from a statewide survey of mental health providers and a survey of organizations providing outpatient mental health services to predominantly MassHealth clients.

The program included two panel discussions highlighting (1) other relevant research on this topic and (2) programs, practices, resources, and models of care that have demonstrated success in facilitating access to outpatient mental health services.