Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare: Effect of Telemental Health Adoption on Mental Health Services Utilization in Federally Qualified Health Centers
This study assessed the effect of telemental health services (TMHS) on mental health services utilization in FQHCs, comparing centers with and without TMHS and examined differences in TMHS effect between FQHCs that adopted TMHS before and during the pandemic. FQHCs offering TMHS showed 1.04 times increase in overall mental health visit rates compared to those without TMHS. FQHCs offering TMHS showed increased mental health visit rates, especially among low-income and Medicaid-insured populations. Read more in the press release.