Collaborative Care statistics 2026
Last updated · sources checked October 29, 2026
Quick answer
Collaborative care has been tested in at least 79 randomized trials with over 24,000 participants, yet it reaches few patients: CoCM claims covered under 0.1 percent of Medicare beneficiaries with behavioral health conditions in one 2017 to 2018 study. Meanwhile 19.7 million US adults had a major depressive episode in 2025.
The evidence base
79 trials
A Cochrane review of collaborative care for depression and anxiety included 79 randomized trials with 24,308 participants, and found better depression outcomes than usual care in the short term (risk ratio 1.32).
45% vs 19%
In the IMPACT trial of 1,801 adults aged 60 or older, 45 percent of collaborative care patients had their depressive symptoms cut by half or more at 12 months, compared with 19 percent in usual care.
Source: Unützer J et al., JAMA, 2002
74 trials
A meta-regression of 74 randomized trials (21,345 participants) looked at which features of collaborative care are linked to better depression outcomes.
20,046 patients
An individual participant data meta-analysis of 20,046 primary care patients found manual-based psychotherapy and family involvement were the most effective components of collaborative care for depression.
How few patients get it
Under 0.1%
In 2017 and 2018, CoCM and behavioral health integration claims covered less than 0.1 percent of Medicare beneficiaries with behavioral health conditions in the primary care practices studied.
Source: Brown JD et al., Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2021
32% denied
Medicare CoCM and general BHI services rose from 10,294 in 2017 to 81,433 in 2018, but Medicare denied 5 percent of services in 2017 and 32 percent in 2018.
Under 0.01%
Among commercially insured people with a depression or anxiety diagnosis, fewer than 0.01 percent received a CoCM episode of care.
The need
19.7 million
7.4 percent of US adults, or 19.7 million people, had a major depressive episode in the past year in 2025, and 20.6 percent (54.6 million) had any mental illness.
Source: SAMHSA, 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, July 2026
154.6 million
154.6 million Americans live in 7,127 Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, where 7,796 more practitioners are needed (as of September 30, 2026; most designations use the psychiatrist ratio).
Source: HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce, Designated HPSA Quarterly Summary, Q4 FY2026
22.8% vs 12.3%
In a national survey (2001 to 2003), more people with a mental disorder were treated by a general medical provider (22.8 percent) than by a psychiatrist (12.3 percent).
Source: Wang PS et al., Archives of General Psychiatry, 2005
Asendar benchmarks
We do not publish benchmarks from Asendar data. If we do in future, they will be aggregated and de-identified, and labeled as such.
How we chose these
Every number comes from a government agency or a peer-reviewed paper, linked above and checked on October 29, 2026. We quote each finding as the source states it. These are findings about collaborative care as a model, not claims about any product. Older figures carry their date.
Common questions
How many trials support collaborative care?
A 2012 Cochrane review included 79 randomized trials with 24,308 participants (Archer et al.).
How many patients receive Collaborative Care?
Very few. Studies found CoCM claims for under 0.1 percent of Medicare beneficiaries with behavioral health conditions (2017 to 2018) and under 0.01 percent of commercially insured people with depression or anxiety.
How many US adults have depression?
In 2025, 7.4 percent of US adults (19.7 million) had a major depressive episode in the past year, according to SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Can I cite these statistics?
Yes. Cite the original source linked under each number, and this page if useful: Asendar, Collaborative Care Statistics 2026, https://www.asendar.com/cocm-statistics.
Published by Asendar™ (Ignite Synergy™). Education only, not medical, legal or billing advice. Payers set their own rules: verify with your payer and your Medicare Administrative Contractor before you bill.
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