Exploring Innovative Solutions to Expand Access to MHSUD Services

With support from the National Institute for Health Care Reform, CHIR researchers are conducting qualitative research to examine the effectiveness of various efforts to improve MHSUD treatment access. This research will be published in a series of five reports, each of which will focus on a unique domain of MHSUD access. As of January 2026, CHIR researchers have published four of five reports. The first focuses on mitigating behavioral health workforce shortages, the second explores ways to expand behavioral health system capacity, the third covers innovative solutions to expand access to care, and the fourth examines financial barriers to behavioral health services (available through the menu on the left hand side).

Published in September 2025, this third report explores innovative and non-traditional solutions to expand access to MHSUD services, such as integration of behavioral health into primary care, mobile health, telehealth, and the use of digital behavioral health tools.

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