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As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, healthcare experts across the country predict an increasing need for mental health and substance misuse treatments. The Centers for Disease Control and PreventionÌý that nearly 41% of people reported a negative impact on their behavioral health as a result of the pandemic, including symptoms of depression and anxiety. A study from this summer a 47% increase in crisis calls to national crisis hotlines, with some experiencing a 300% increase in call volume.

Increased stressors such as quarantine, isolation, food insecurity, finance-related anxiety, changes in employment, and other concerns are driving demands for behavioral health services. In the past several months, there has been a significant increase in prescriptions for antianxiety and antidepressant medications, with the majority being first-time prescriptions. As the pandemic continues to evolve, it's critical that individuals in need of behavioral health services can access much-needed care.

As the largest Medicaid managed care organization in the country, ÈâÈ⴫ý supports many of our nation's most vulnerable citizens. In order to fully support the behavioral health needs of our membership, ÈâÈ⴫ý Advanced Behavioral Health has outlined recommendations for improving health outcomes for vulnerable member populations in a recently published white paper. Recommendations fall into four categories:

• Prevention
• Screening and Intervention
• Treatment Enhancements and Innovation
• Federal and State Policy Recommendations

Access the full white paper here.

During this unprecedented time, ÈâÈ⴫ý must continue expanding community partnerships and supporting the whole health of our membership. Further details on ÈâÈ⴫ý's enterprise-wide COVID-19 relief efforts are found on our online Resource Center.