More People Are Seeking Mental Health Care. The System Isn’t Ready.

For the first time ever, in 2024, commercially insured Americans went to behavioral health appointments more often than primary care: 66.4 million visits vs. 62.8 million visits. Slowly, but surely, we’re chipping away at the stigma of taking care of our mental (behavioral) health.

While it’s great news that people are taking their mental health seriously, patients are falling through the cracks because of admissions inefficiencies. Patients need inpatient care and they are put into a system that rewards speed over everything.

The data below shows the tradeoff happening in BH admissions today.

When a hospital needs to discharge a BH patient, they send the referral (often 100+ pages, sent by fax and proprietary portals) to every facility that might accept them. Beds are scarce and the facility that responds first is 22% more likely to win the patient.

The problem is downstream. Moving fast on a 100-page fax means important details get missed. Example: If a patient is on continuous oxygen dependency, a BH facility may not be able to take the patient. Missing details lead to 11% of patients being readmitted within 30 days. 33% return within a year. These results are usually devastating for the patient, in an already vulnerable place.

The alternative is reviewing thoroughly, responding in 10+ hours, and losing the patient to a faster competitor.

Facilities shouldn't have to choose between speed and accuracy, but that’s what happens every day. At Basalt, we’re changing that.