New Study Finds Use of Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model Has Expanded Rapidly for Children and Adults, but With Enormous Disparities Among States

Key organizations call on 14 state Medicaid agencies to reimburse for CoCM to improve patient outcomes and reduce total healthcare costs for Medicaid, Medicare and commercial plans

WASHINGTON, Feb. 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new study found that use of the Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) is increasing rapidly at a national level, but enormous disparities in use exist among states. CoCM is the low cost, proven method of integrating mental health treatment into primary care –the most accessible care for most Americans.

Released today by Shatterproof and The Bowman Family Foundation, the analysis shows that from 2018 to 2024 the national rate of use of CoCM for commercial patients grew 26-fold, from 12 patients per “100,000 patients with a mental health and substance use diagnosis” to 317 per 100,000. Arizona, Wisconsin and Utah each reported over 1,000 CoCM patients per 100,000, while many states had fewer than 50 (e.g., Louisiana, Rhode Island and Indiana). Some had almost no patients. The trends and findings for Medicaid and Medicare patients were similar. With few exceptions, states with high CoCM use for Medicaid patients had high use for patients with all types of insurance, and vice versa.

CoCM has been shown in many research and real-world studies to improve both mental and physical health outcomes for patients and reduce suicide risk. Four CoCM studies – each involving Kaiser Permanente, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, or Independence Blue Cross – demonstrated reductions in total healthcare costs as soon as within six months and for as long as four years.

“CoCM efficiently integrates behavioral health services into primary care – where patients already seek help – doing so by increasing use of non-medication therapies and assuring that only appropriate medications are prescribed at the lowest effective dose,” said Henry Harbin, MD, advisor to The Bowman Family Foundation. “This model is a scalable solution to close critical gaps in behavioral health access.”

Kevin Roy, chief public policy officer, Shatterproof, added “Shatterproof continues to advocate for the expansion of coverage of the Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model in state Medicaid plans because CoCM is a proven way to both improve patient outcomes and reduce overall costs for taxpayers – which is critical given the fiscal crisis which states face with Medicaid cuts. We’re particularly encouraged to see such rapid expansion of CoCM for children and adolescents, where early intervention matters most, offering a clear opportunity to address substance use gaps and save lives.”

Based on the findings in this and prior studies of CoCM use patterns, as well as many discussions with providers, the study’s authors conclude that absence of reimbursement for Medicaid patients in a state drives most providers in that state to not offer CoCM services to patients with all types of insurance – Medicaid, Medicare and commercial. Today, Medicaid agencies and most Medicaid managed care organizations in 14 states provide essentially no reimbursement for CoCM, except to cover patient out-of-pocket expenses for patients dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.

Call to action
The following organizations urge all states to adequately reimburse for CoCM and all stakeholders (e.g., US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, employers, commercial insurers, regulators, accreditation organizations, and providers) to support broadscale use of CoCM by taking the steps recommended in the new study:

Accelerate The Future
Advancing Integrated Mental Health Solutions (AIMS) Center at the University of Washington
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)
American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD)
American College of Physicians (ACP)
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
American Psychiatric Association (APA)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM)
The Bowman Family Foundation
BrainFutures
Children's Hospital Colorado
Children's National Hospital, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, and Community Mental Health CORE
Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
The Goodness Web
Inseparable
The Jed Foundation (JED)
Joe & Sandy Samberg Foundation
Kaiser Permanente
The Kennedy Forum (TKF)
Lakeshore Foundation
Mass General Brigham Department of Psychiatry
Mental Health America (MHA)
Mindful Philanthropy
National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD)
National Council for Mental Wellbeing
NHMH - No Health without Mental Health
Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health
Shatterproof
Sylvan C. Herman Foundation
Treatment Advocacy Center (TAC)
West Health

About the study
The study was commissioned by the Mental Health Treatment and Research Institute LLC (MHTARI), a tax-exempt subsidiary of The Bowman Family Foundation. The research for the study regarding commercial health plans is based upon de-identified, aggregated healthcare claims data compiled and maintained by FAIR Health Inc. Results of the analysis of such data were provided to MHTARI for analysis by MHTARI. Separately, an analysis of Medicaid and Medicare claims data was requested by MHTARI and conducted by RTI International. Neither FAIR Health nor RTI International is responsible for any of the opinions or recommendations expressed in this study.

About Shatterproof
Shatterproof is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a world where addiction never defines or ends a life. Guided by its mission to transform systems, support families, and end stigma, Shatterproof advances evidence-based solutions to improve prevention, treatment, and recovery; drives policy change to strengthen addiction care and accountability; educates the public to replace stigma with understanding; and equips families with trusted resources and support. Grounded in science and rigorous measurement, Shatterproof helps people today while catalyzing lasting systems change for future generations. Follow Shatterproof on Facebook, X, and YouTube at @ShatterproofHQ, and on Instagram at @weareshatterproof. Learn more at shatterproof.org.

About The Bowman Family Foundation
The Bowman Family Foundation is a private foundation qualifying as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The primary mission of the Foundation is to improve the lives of people with mental health and substance use conditions. For more information, visit thebowmanfamilyfoundation.org and follow on LinkedIn.

Media contacts:
Cary Conway
cary@conwaycommunication.com

Holly Jespersen
Hjespersen@shatterproof.org

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