Receiving Recognition: A Case for Occupational Therapy Practitioners as Mental and Behavioral Health Providers

Abstract

Importance: An analysis by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA; 2015a) found that an additional 10,000 mental health care providers will be needed by 2025 to meet the expected growth in demand for treatment of people with mental illness, substance use disorder, or both. Despite being the largest payer of mental health services in the United States, the Medicaid program has extremely low numbers of mental health providers (Frank et al., 2003). Objective: This Health Policy Perspectives column is a collaboration among academics, clinicians, and students in the fields of occupational therapy and law in an effort to advance state occupational therapy associations’ efforts to gain formal recognition of occupational therapy practitioners as Qualified Mental Health Providers (QMHPs) and/or Qualified Behavioral Health Providers (QBHPs). Conclusion: Coordination among states to identify barriers and opportunities in this important advocacy effort are needed for continued successful inclusion of occupational therapy practitioners as QMHPs, QBHPs, or both. What This Article Adds: This column will assist other states in their efforts by providing legislation, strategic advocacy examples, and a course of action.

Implementation of occupational therapy within early intervention in psychosis services: Results from a national survey

“…Other barriers, such as limited awareness of the value of OT by leadership/decision‐makers, likely impact funding. Therefore, advocacy efforts at state government levels to include OT practitioners in the definitions of who can deliver mental health services (e.g., qualified mental health professionals) is needed (Wilburn Hoss et al, 2021). As an illustration of the effectiveness of such advocacy, Virginia changed the definition of mental health practitioner to include OT after a strong effort by local, state and national OT practitioners and advocates in 2017 (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2017).…”

Who Are You Without Your Substance? Transforming Occupational Time Use in Recovery

“…The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) designated licensed OT practitioners as one profession that states might utilize to be a part of a Certified Center for Behavioral Health Center (SAMHSA, 2015, 1 b.2). Currently however, only eight states have recognized OT practitioners as Qualified Mental Health Providers with more advocating to change licensure laws to address the need for expected growth in the demand for treating individuals with mental health and SUD (Wilburn, Hoss, Pudeler, Beukema, Rothernbuhler, & Stoll, 2021).…”