Federally Qualified Health Centers Use of Telehealth to Deliver Integrated Behavioral Health Care During COVID-19

Community Mental Health Journal: Federally Qualified Health Centers Use of Telehealth to Deliver Integrated Behavioral Health Care During COVID-19

Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) transitioned to deliver care via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reviewed how FQHCs adopted integrated behavioral health (IBH) using telehealth. Nine interviews with FQHC administrators resulted in the four themes: telehealth was essential; core components of IBH were impacted; payment parity and reimbursement were a concern; and telehealth addressed workforce issues. Findings confirm the necessity of telehealth for FQHCs during COVID-19, with additional support.