Health Plan Strategies For Managing Behavioral Health Benefits: Insights From A National Survey
May 20, 2026 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
ABOUT THIS EVENT
As demand for behavioral health services continues to grow, health plans are under increasing pressure to expand access, improve outcomes, and manage total cost of care. Balancing these priorities has become more complex as utilization rises, workforce shortages persist, and expectations for performance and accountability continue to increase.1
This discussion examines findings from a national survey of health plan practices for managing behavioral health benefits. Drawing on these insights, the conversation will explore how plans are expanding access through non-traditional care models, advancing measurement and accountability for outcomes, and evolving care delivery and payment models to better manage total cost of care.
Participants will gain insight into:
- How health plans are managing behavioral health benefits today
- Which strategies are gaining traction across access, outcomes, and cost
- How emerging models are reshaping benefit design and care delivery decisions in the years ahead
Reference:
Lovett, L. (2024, July 19). Behavioral health utilization is a driving factor in driving up commercial health care spend. Behavioral Health Business. https://bhbusiness.com/2024/07/19/behavioral-health-utilization-is-a-driving-factor-in-driving-up-commercial-health-care-spend/
FEATURING
Stuart Buttlaire, Ph.D., Vice President of Clinical Excellence & Leadership, OPEN MINDS*
Stuart Buttlaire brings over 35 years of executive, clinical, and policy experience to OPEN MINDS. Dr. Buttlaire has experience in both the public and private sectors of healthcare providing leadership and direction in healthcare delivery. His career has focused on advancing integrated behavioral health and addiction medicine through strategic innovation, system redesign, quality improvement, and sustainable policy reform.
Previously, Dr. Buttlaire was the Regional Director of Behavioral Health and Addiction Medicine for Kaiser Permanente. In this role, Dr. Buttlaire oversaw a $200 million portfolio serving 4.6 million members across 23 emergency departments and 33 medical centers.
Briana Duffy, National Market President, Carelon Behavioral Health, Advisory Board Member, OPEN MINDS
Briana Duffy brings more than 30 years of experience leading transformation within the behavioral health and social services industry to the OPEN MINDS team. Her experience spans leading growth, transformation and system innovation across behavioral and population health.
Ms. Duffy is also the National Market President at Carelon Behavioral Health, a leading behavioral healthcare company that provides a wide range of services focused on mental health and substance use treatment. In this role, she serves 40 million members across federal, state, and employer health plans.
Steven McFadden, PharmD, BCPS, CSP, Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.*
Steven is a Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS) with extensive experience as a clinical pharmacist at Humana Pharmacy Solutions. As a member of Humana’s clinical formulary team, Steven provided strategic clinical recommendations and contributed to formulary design; while also developing Utilization Management criteria, including Prior Authorization and Step Therapy protocols.
REGISTRATION
Health Plan Strategies For Managing Behavioral Health Benefits: Insights From A National Survey
This discussion examines findings from a national survey of health plan practices for managing behavioral health benefits. Drawing on these insights, the conversation will explore how plans are expanding access through non-traditional care models, advancing measurement and accountability for outcomes, and evolving care delivery and payment models to better manage total cost of care.
Participants will gain insight into:
• How health plans are managing behavioral health benefits today
• Which strategies are gaining traction across access, outcomes, and cost
• How emerging models are reshaping benefit design and care delivery decisions in the years ahead
Reference:
1. Lovett, L. (2024, July 19). Behavioral health utilization is a driving factor in driving up commercial health care spend. Behavioral Health Business. https://bhbusiness.com/2024/07/19/behavioral-health-utilization-is-a-driving-factor-in-driving-up-commercial-health-care-spend/
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*Dr. Stuart Buttlaire and Briana Duffy are paid consultants of Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OAPI). Dr. Steven McFadden is an employee of OAPI.