In 2024, nearly 30% of residents in Massachusetts with commercial insurance filled a prescription to treat a behavioral health condition, as diagnoses and medication usage increased across all demographics, WWLP reported June 11.
Here are four things to know:
- In a report, the state Health Policy Commission found 28% of commercially insured residents filled at least one behavioral health prescription in 2024, up 4 percentage points from 2019. From 2019 to 2024, the share of individuals with at least one behavioral health diagnosis increased from 29% to 35%.
- Over 19% of commercially insured members filled at least one antidepressant prescription. Adult females used antidepressants at twice the rate of males. Among females ages 18 to 25, prescription use increased from 26.9% in 2019 to 34.3% in 2024. For females ages 26 to 49, the rate rose from 31.2% to 38.4%.
- In 2024, 19.3% of males ages 18 to 25 and 22.4% of males ages 26 to 49 filled a behavioral health prescription. About one in five individuals ages 12 to 17 had at least one behavioral health prescription. Male children ages 5 to 11 were twice as likely as females to fill a stimulant prescription.
- The report found patient cost sharing associated with psychotropic prescriptions increased from $34.18 per member in 2019 to $42.33 in 2024. While the report suggested increased prescription use may reflect improved access to behavioral healthcare, the 2025 Massachusetts Health Insurance Survey found one in 10 residents reported an unmet behavioral healthcare need.
At the Becker's Fall Behavioral Health Summit, taking place November 4–5 in Chicago, behavioral health leaders and executives will explore strategies for expanding access to care, integrating services, addressing workforce challenges and leveraging innovation to improve outcomes across the behavioral health continuum. Apply for complimentary registration now.
