New Healthcare Provider Survey Reveals Both Opportunities and Barriers in Planned Adoption of Psychedelic Therapy

New Healthcare Provider Survey Reveals Both Opportunities and Barriers in Planned Adoption of Psychedelic Therapy 

Health providers plan rapid adoption of psychedelic therapy, but anticipate delays in insurance coverage 

LUTHERVILLE, MD AND BERKELEY, CA – March 10, 2025 – A survey of mental health providers from 15 states revealed both opportunities and barriers to incorporating psychedelic therapy into existing mental health practices. Half of survey respondents plan to add new psychedelic therapies to their practice within six months following FDA approval. However, 60 percent of respondents anticipate barriers to insurance coverage of psychedelic therapy.   

These findings and more are summarized in a joint BrainFutures–Collaborative for the Economics of Psychedelics (CEP) whitepaper released today, “Scaling Psychedelic Therapies in the Health System.”  

“This research shows that there’s a pool of mental health providers who are eager to adopt psychedelic therapy shortly after FDA approval,” said BrainFutures executive director Sarah Norman. “Health providers also described operational barriers that may limit access— including behavioral health workforce shortages and insurance challenges. That’s why BrainFutures is building tools and other resources to support implementation after FDA approval.” 

Lead author Brandon Truax, a researcher at CEP said, “Mental health professionals show remarkable interest in psychedelic therapies, with nearly two-thirds planning to incorporate these treatments once FDA approved. Yet the path to implementation reveals critical hurdles. Our findings expose deeper systemic issues concerning access, clinical delivery, and economic sustainability as healthcare systems begin adapting to psychedelic therapies.” 

Additional findings include: 

• 30 percent of surveyed providers believe that insurance is very unlikely to cover psychedelic therapies, while only 5 percent believe that it is very likely to offer coverage. 

• Respondents are most likely to offer psilocybin to patients if it is FDA approved (60 percent), followed by ketamine (50 percent) and MDMA (40 percent). Only ketamine is currently approved by the FDA. 

• Ketamine providers are better prepared to implement psychedelic therapies than other mental health providers, especially with regard to staffing and IT resources. 

Findings from the survey underscore the importance of ongoing disparities between insurance coverage of medical and behavioral health services. BrainFutures’ 2024 paper, “A Path Toward Parity,” outlines how the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 can be used to drive coverage of psychedelic therapy.  

In light of the anticipated workforce shortages identified in today’s whitepaper, BrainFutures has created a toolkit to support academic leaders who want to educate future mental health clinicians about psychedelic therapies and published research showing that there is growing interest in adding psychedelic therapies to the curriculum among leaders in higher education.  

About the Collaborative for the Economics of Psychedelics 

CEP is a network of health economists dedicated to achieving the potential of psychedelic therapies for high-priority mental health conditions. Through the application of policy-relevant economic analyses, CEP seeks to enhance clinical outcomes, increase efficiency of service delivery, and increase access to these promising therapies for everyone who can benefit. 

About BrainFutures 

BrainFutures is a national nonprofit dedicated to improving well-being by assessing and advancing the practical applications of new scientific understanding of the brain. As a citizen advocacy organization, we enlist specialists to offer rigorous assessment of—and education about—brain-based interventions that target specific segments of society. By providing objective evidence-based information about what works and clearing policy and practice pathways, we aim to maximize human potential and ameliorate pressing social challenges. Learn more: BrainFutures.org 

# # #