The U.S. behavioral health (BH) workforce faces significant shortages and distribution disparities, hindering access to quality care and worsening health outcomes. A comprehensive, centralized database of BH providers is vital for advancing patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR), comparative effectiveness research (CER), and evidence-based policymaking.
In 2024, ASPE conducted a study to explore the feasibility of developing a database to support research, guide resource allocation, and enhance public access. Through an environmental scan and engagement with a 12-member technical expert panel (TEP), critical insights were gathered on database design and scaling. This ASPE report and data inventory identify key elements, including provider demographics, licensure, education, and practice details. To address challenges such as data quality, multi-state practices, and sustainability, the resources emphasize the importance of standardizing data across diverse provider types, harmonizing data sources, and establishing robust linkages with PCOR datasets.
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