'It's a Crisis': How the Shortage of Mental Health Counselors Is Affecting the Rural Northwest

Northwest News Network

Dec 15, 2024

Explores the impacts of behavioral health provider shortages on rural communities in the northwest. Notes that immigrants may face additional challenges finding care due to language barriers and some providers not accepting Medicaid. Describes strategies to increase access to behavioral health providers, including telehealth, increased reimbursement for services, and workforce programs.

Access · Behavioral health workforce · Financial aid for health career education · Health workforce shortage designations · Immigrants · Medicaid · Mental health · Recruitment and retention of health professionals · Reimbursement and payment models · Telehealth · Idaho · Washington