Mental Health Care in Kentucky

Mental Health Facilities by City in Kentucky

The Kentucky cities with the most SAMHSA-listed mental health facilities. All 127 cities are listed below the table.

Crisis and Support Lines in Kentucky

Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, any time. 988 counselors in Kentucky can connect the caller with mobile response providers or first responders when needed. Kentucky Medicaid lists mobile crisis as a covered service.

• Kentucky crisis services

Kentucky's Mental Health Agency

Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID) oversees public mental health services in Kentucky.

• Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID)
• Find local services through Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID)

Medicaid Mental Health Coverage in Kentucky

Kentucky's Medicaid program is Kentucky Medicaid (Department for Medicaid Services). Behavioral health services are delivered through the Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs): Aetna Better Health of Kentucky, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana Healthy Horizons in Kentucky, Passport Health Plan by Molina Healthcare, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan and WellCare of Kentucky. Covered mental health services the state names include screening, assessment, psychological testing, crisis intervention, mobile crisis, residential crisis stabilization, day treatment (youth under 21), peer support, intensive outpatient program, individual outpatient therapy, group outpatient therapy, family outpatient therapy, collateral outpatient therapy, partial hospitalization, service planning, assertive community treatment, comprehensive community support services and therapeutic rehabilitation program. Individual outpatient therapy is limited to three hours per day unless medical necessity justifies more. Group outpatient therapy is limited to groups of no more than 12 unrelated persons. Prior authorization requirements vary by managed care plan; DMS publishes a chart of prior authorization by behavioral health service for each plan.

• Kentucky Medicaid (Department for Medicaid Services) mental health services
• Kentucky Medicaid behavioral health

Community Mental Health Centers (Regional Boards for Mental Health or Individuals With an Intellectual Disability, Regional MHID Boards)

Publicly funded community services for Kentuckians with mental health, developmental and intellectual disability, or substance use problems are provided through Kentucky's 14 Regional MHID Boards. These are private, nonprofit organizations established by KRS Chapter 210 that each serve a designated multi-county region.

• Community Mental Health Centers (Regional Boards for Mental Health or Individuals With an Intellectual Disability, Regional MHID Boards) in Kentucky

Check a Therapist's License in Kentucky

Before you start, confirm your therapist or psychologist holds an active Kentucky license.

• Psychologists: Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology
• Professional counselors: Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors
• Social workers: Kentucky Board of Social Work
• Marriage and family therapists: Kentucky Board of Licensure for Marriage and Family Therapists

Guides for Your Next Step

See how to find a therapist, how sliding-scale therapy works, whether Medicaid covers therapy and the difference between a psychiatrist and a therapist.

Related on rehab.help: addiction treatment in Kentucky.

Frequently Asked Questions