Telepsychiatry has become a critical tool for expanding access to behavioral health care, with utilization increasing substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic alongside federal telehealth policy flexibilities. While some flexibilities have been made permanent, others are set to expire, and the effects on access to care remain unclear. Understanding the extent to which patients receive behavioral health care through telehealth-only, in-person-only, or hybrid episodes of care could help policymakers assess the potential impact of these policy changes.

This article examines patterns of behavioral health care delivery across episodes of care (telehealth-only, in-person-only, hybrid care), assesses how hybrid episodes are initiated, and identifies factors associated with beginning care via telehealth.