What is behavioral healthcare law? | Behavioral Health Law Firm

WHAT IS BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE LAW?

The Behavioral Health Industry

The behavioral health industry is, in its broadest sense, comprised of mental health, mental retardation, drug and alcohol, nursing home, assisted living, extended care, elder care, guardianship (personal/financial), representative payee, home healthcare and juvenile justice, service providers (both institutional, in-patient group homes and out-patient clinics) and the insurers, MCO’s and governmental entities related to these services. The industry is historically made up by small niche providers.

Behavioral healthcare providers range in size and type from sole practitioners that are psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, therapists and practitioners that specialize in the services that they provide, to large organizations which provide a full range of services.

The Growth of Behavioral Healthcare

The behavioral healthcare industry grew dramatically in the last quarter of the 20th century. Why? Because of the increase in the treatment for drug and alcohol related illnesses and the closure of state institutions by the Department of Justice’s deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill and mentally retarded to the extent that they can be placed in a community-based setting. As a result of this, facilities had to be created to provide the residential supervision and out-patient services necessary to care for these people in the appropriate community based setting. This trend has been exacerbated by the continued successful development of psychotropic medications releasing many to out-patient care who previously were incapable of community based living arrangement.

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