NFL Launches Behavioral Network, But Is There A Loser From Policy

The NFL now has its own Behavioral Health Network of sorts which is clearly an important services for professionals and their families - the question is whether the therapists for this network will be drawn more to the NFL player given potential that the reimbursement is higher than a typical patient. Is this policy for athletes - while clearly good - creating an access issue.

One therapist we spoke to who left her private practice to work for a University in California says she sees both collegiate and professional athletes in the Los Angeles area and the payment is typically 3-4x more than when she was getting patients from traditional sources. She asked not to be named here. “I need a living, I’m raising kids, my work is valuable - I tried the traditional route for years, but I understand how this seems.”

The NFL behavioral network launched Sept. 1 providing current and former players and their dependents confidential access to mental health assistance.

Cigna, the health insurer, will provide the support via its own network of clinicians, including confidential appointment scheduling. There will be no charge or coinsurance fee to the players for the outpatient services and no limit on visits.

Several markets where NFL teams play have major access issues to therapists already, including insurance directories with just a small portion of psychologists and psychiatrists actually able to take new patients, and schools under water with just 1 counselor for 1,000+ students.

“The goal of the Behavioral Health Network is to make it easier for players and their families to access clinical support,” said Dr. Nyaka NiiLampti, NFL vice president of wellness and clinical services, in a statement.