Availability of Outpatient Telemental Health Services in the United States at the Outset of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Ambulatory Care
/ organization & administration
COVID-19
/ epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Geography
Health Services Accessibility
/ organization & administration
Humans
Mental Health Services
/ organization & administration
Pandemics
/ prevention & control
Physical Distancing
Telemedicine
/ organization & administration
United States
/ epidemiology
Journal
Medical care
ISSN: 1537-1948
Titre abrégé: Med Care
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 0230027
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
01 04 2021
01 04 2021
Historique:
pubmed:
23
1
2021
medline:
23
3
2021
entrez:
22
1
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Since coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused dramatic changes in everyday life, a major concern is whether patients have adequate access to mental health care despite shelter-in-place ordinances, school closures, and social distancing practices. The aim was to examine the availability of telehealth services at outpatient mental health treatment facilities in the United States at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify facility-level characteristics and state-level policies associated with the availability. Observational cross-sectional study. All outpatient mental health treatment facilities (N=8860) listed in the Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on April 16, 2020. Primary outcome is whether an outpatient mental health treatment facility reported offering telehealth services. Approximately 43% of outpatient mental health facilities in the United States reported telehealth availability at the outset of the pandemic. Facilities located in the United States South and nonmetropolitan counties were more likely to offer services, as were facilities with public sector ownership, those providing care for both children and adults, and those accepting Medicaid as a form of payment. Outpatient mental health treatment facilities located in states with state-wide shelter-in-place laws were less likely to offer telehealth, as well as facilities in counties with more COVID-19 cases per 10,000 population. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer than half of outpatient mental health treatment facilities were providing telehealth services. Our results suggest that additional policies to promote telehealth may be warranted to increase availability over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Since coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused dramatic changes in everyday life, a major concern is whether patients have adequate access to mental health care despite shelter-in-place ordinances, school closures, and social distancing practices.
OBJECTIVES
The aim was to examine the availability of telehealth services at outpatient mental health treatment facilities in the United States at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to identify facility-level characteristics and state-level policies associated with the availability.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Observational cross-sectional study.
SUBJECTS
All outpatient mental health treatment facilities (N=8860) listed in the Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on April 16, 2020.
MEASURES
Primary outcome is whether an outpatient mental health treatment facility reported offering telehealth services.
RESULTS
Approximately 43% of outpatient mental health facilities in the United States reported telehealth availability at the outset of the pandemic. Facilities located in the United States South and nonmetropolitan counties were more likely to offer services, as were facilities with public sector ownership, those providing care for both children and adults, and those accepting Medicaid as a form of payment. Outpatient mental health treatment facilities located in states with state-wide shelter-in-place laws were less likely to offer telehealth, as well as facilities in counties with more COVID-19 cases per 10,000 population.
CONCLUSIONS
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer than half of outpatient mental health treatment facilities were providing telehealth services. Our results suggest that additional policies to promote telehealth may be warranted to increase availability over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33480660
doi: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000001512
pii: 00005650-202104000-00007
pmc: PMC7954880
mid: NIHMS1657969
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Observational Study
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
319-323Subventions
Organisme : NIMH NIH HHS
ID : R01 MH112760
Pays : United States
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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