How to Find a Psychiatrist Who Accepts Medicaid

Medicaid is a state-based insurance program that helps pay for health care services, including mental health services. Finding a psychiatrist who accepts Medicaid is a moderately easy process, if you're willing to take advantage of online resources and do some research. There are three ways of finding a psychiatrist who accepts Medicaid: Searching through your state Medicaid agency list of providers, or your Medicaid primary care doctor; searching through your state psychiatric society and asking providers in your area if they accept Medicaid; or searching through resources developed by patient advocacy groups.

Instructions

Find a psychiatrist who accepts Medicaid

• 1

  Contact your state Medicaid agency, or visit its web site, and search for psychiatrists among the list of approved Medicaid providers -- a list of links for state Medicaid agencies is available in the References. Because psychiatrists are physicians, they will be included in the directory of doctors who accept Medicaid in your state. Some states also offer separate directories of mental health providers in the state who accept Medicaid -- be sure to check to see if your state develops a separate list of mental health providers.

• 2

  Talk to your primary care physician or family doctor. All state Medicaid programs assign members to a primary care physician who is responsible for helping you maintain your health. If you need to see a psychiatrist, your primary care doctor will be able to refer you to a psychiatrist who accepts Medicaid for payment, either practicing within the Medicaid program at a community clinic or in private practice.

• 3

  Find a local psychiatrist by searching through resources developed by your state psychiatric society (a list of societies and links to their web sites is available in References). Each state psychiatric society offers a "find a doctor" tool, which will allow you to search for local psychiatrists in your area and their contact information. Once you find some local doctors, call their offices and ask if they accept Medicaid. If they do not, ask if they know of any doctors who does.

• 4

  Use resources developed by patient advocacy groups, such as Mental Health America (link in References). Mental Health America has a rich web site full of information about getting mental health services under Medicaid or at community health centers. Links to other directories, information about alternate programs and helpful tips are also on the site.