Psychiatric Group Warns Insurance Mergers Could Impact Mental Health Care

Two proposed health insurance mergers could negatively impact patients’ access to mental health care services, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has warned antitrust regulators.

In one proposed deal, Anthem would become the largest U.S. health insurer after acquiring Cigna in a $47 billion deal. A second deal allowing Aetna to buy Humana would make Aetna the largest provider of Medicare plans for older people.

The American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians have already asked government regulators to review the deals’ potential impact on competition, Reuters reports.

Last week, Democratic and Republican senators questioned executives from Anthem and Aetna about the effects of the deals.

APA, which represents 36,000 physicians, released a letter to U.S. Assistant Attorney General William J. Baer that cited insurers’ history of denying mental health benefits. Insurers’ networks of psychiatrists are inadequate and likely to worsen, the group said.

“After a thorough investigation of existing practices, we are confident the relevant authorities will be convinced that the merged entities would be a threat not only to consumer choice and pricing, but also to consumer mental health and well-being,” the letter said.

“APA agrees with the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, and the American Academy of Family Physicians and shares their concern that these proposed consolidations will functionally leave the vast majority of health care administration in the United States to three major insurers, thereby eliminating consumer choice and encouraging insurers to raise prices and reduce quality of care in most markets,” the group wrote.

“Furthermore, individuals with mental illness, including substance use disorders, are uniquely affected by the impact these mergers will have on access to psychiatric care in insurance plan provider networks.”