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Health Care Reform and the Behavioral Health Workforce |
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| Authors: | Gerald Cochran John Roll Ron Jackson Jae Kennedy |
| Affiliation: | 1. Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;2. College of Nursing, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, USA;3. School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA;4. School of Health Policy and Administration, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, USA |
| Abstract: | Health care reform will increase the number of individuals who have access to substance abuse services. This impending influx of consumers has the potential of overwhelming the service capacity of providers within the field. Provisions included in the reform legislation might fall short of their intended goal to expand the number of service providers needed to deliver services. This article discusses unmet treatment need in the United States, the current numbers of service providers, and provisions within the reform legislation to increase the labor force. Recommendations are set forth that could help expand the number of providers in the field. |
| Keywords: | addiction Affordable Care Act behavioral health health care reform workforce |