The study, published Feb. 6, compared the number of active psychiatrists providing services to Medicare Part B enrollees between 2014 and 2022. The number of psychiatrists billing Medicare Part B declined by 16.8% from 2014 to 2022, while the number of active psychiatrists increased by 12.1%.
Here are five findings to note:
- In 2022, around one in three psychiatrists, or 33%, submitted claims to Medicare Part B.
- The decline in providers serving Medicare enrollees despite overall increases in the number of providers has not been documented in any other medical specialty, the study’s authors wrote.
- The study’s authors suggest “further serious study” of access to psychiatric care for traditional Medicare enrollees, and noted the burdens faced by providers accepting Medicare Part B.
- The number of Medicare enrollees also declined by 10.6% from 2014 to 2022, as more beneficiaries chose Medicare Advantage plans. More study is needed to determine if the decrease in psychiatrists billing Medicare Part B has led to an increase in providers billing Medicare Advantage.
- “Taken together, the results of this study suggest a potential decline in access to psychiatrist-led care among many individuals with mental and physical disabilities and older adults nationwide,” the authors concluded.
The study was conducted by researchers at Stanford (Calif.) University School of Medicine and the University of Chicago. Read the full study here.
