Scaling Psychedelic Therapies in the Health System

Healthcare provider survey reveals both opportunities and barriers in the planned adoption of psychedelic therapy

A recent survey of mental health providers from 15 states assesses the factors that will influence access to psychedelic therapy after FDA approval. Below are some key insights from the whitepaper co-authored by BrainFutures and UC Berkeley’s Collaborative for the Economics of Psychedelics (CEP), Scaling Psychedelics Therapies in the Health System.

Key Findings

Rapid Adoption Expected: Over half of the surveyed providers plan to incorporate psychedelic therapies into their practice within six months of FDA approval.

Insurance Coverage Concerns: 60% expect significant obstacles with insurance. 30% believe coverage is “very unlikely”.

Workforce Challenges: Providers identified training needs and staffing gaps as significant barriers to providing psychedelic therapy.

Provider Readiness: Ketamine providers are better prepared to integrate psychedelic therapies than other mental health providers, particularly in the early adoption stage.

The results of this survey emphasize the significance of ongoing discussions about insurance coverage, regulatory updates, and the necessary infrastructure for ensuring equitable access to these treatments. Without insurance coverage, access to psychedelic care will be limited to those who can pay out of pocket.

Additional Resources

A Path Toward Parity
Learn more about how the mental health parity law can drive insurance coverage for psychedelic therapies.

Integrating Psychedelic Coursework into Higher Education: A Toolkit for Academic Leaders & Course List
This toolkit contains resources and best practices for faculty who are interested in teaching psychedelic therapy curricula to their students.

Survey on Psychedelic Therapy Curricula in Academia
This survey report assesses the current state of psychedelic therapy curricula in higher education with insights from more than 400 academic leaders in social work, counseling, nursing, and psychology.

BrainFutures is grateful to The Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation, The Darla Moore Foundation, The Cammack Family Charitable Gift Fund, and an anonymous donor for making this project possible.