Which of the following best explains why insurance companies typically require psychotherapy to be considered medically necessary before providing coverage?

• A. To reduce the paperwork required for mental health claims
• B. To ensure that treatment is evidence-based and addresses a diagnosable mental health condition
• C. To encourage patients to seek alternative medicine instead of psychotherapy
• D. To limit the number of therapists available to clients

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of 'medically necessary' in the context of psychotherapy, which means that the treatment must be justified by a diagnosable mental health condition and supported by evidence-based practices.
2. Recognize that insurance companies require this criterion to ensure that the therapy provided is appropriate, effective, and addresses a legitimate health issue, rather than covering treatments without proven benefit.
3. Consider why other options are less plausible: reducing paperwork is not the primary goal, encouraging alternative medicine is unrelated to insurance policy, and limiting therapists is not a typical insurance objective.
4. Focus on the importance of evidence-based treatment in healthcare insurance, which helps control costs and ensures quality care for patients with mental health diagnoses.
5. Conclude that the best explanation is that insurance companies want to verify that psychotherapy is necessary and supported by clinical evidence before providing coverage.