On the Relationship Between Stakeholder Affiliation and Attitudes Toward Behavioral Health Reform in Kansas

Abstract

Introduction. The lack of access to behavioral health care, trends in behavioral health issues, and the impact of social determinants of health underlie the need for behavioral health reform in Kansas. However, stakeholders may affect progress toward behavioral health reform. This study examined stakeholders’ attitudes toward behavioral health reform. 

Methods. This study analyzed data from a survey administered to elected officials, members of health advocacy groups, state employees, and payers in Kansas. Main outcome measures included attitudes toward primary care and behavioral health integration; the perceived benefit of certain behavioral health and social determinants of health policies; and the perceived performance of the primary care and behavioral health care systems in Kansas.

Results. Although stakeholders supported most policies that facilitate primary care and behavioral health integration, elected officials and payers were less likely to support financial incentives for primary care practitioners who treat gender dysphoria than health advocates and state employees. Payers perceived legislation to improve insurance coverage for behavioral health issues as less beneficial than state employees and health advocates. And elected officials perceived legislation to address various social determinants of health as less beneficial than health advocates.

Conclusions. Preliminary findings indicate may reflect both the barriers and facilitators to behavioral health reform in Kansas. However, several limitations undermined the generalizability of these findings. Future studies should consider more representative sample sizes, additional variables in behavioral health and social determinants of health policies, and more comprehensive, validated measures.