The use of telehealth has increased dramatically from 2013 to 2016 as many state policies have become more favorable towards telehealth. However, it is unclear whether these policies have led to higher rates of telehealth use for underserved populations. This article describes an analysis of consumer survey data to examine how telehealth use rates have…
Subspecialists of psychiatrists that treat vulnerable populations are in short supply across the country. Discrepancies in supply between rural and urban areas are likely, but little is known about how these subspecialties are geographically distributed. This report examined county-level data of different subspecialties of psychiatrists to determine how the subspecialties were distributed and whether there…
Minimum data sets (MDS) can be effective for the standardized collection of granular workforce data that allows policymakers to confront important health access issues. In 2016, the Behavioral Health Workforce Research center developed and refined a comprehensive MDS for the entire behavioral health workforce. This report describes a study that conducted interviews and focus groups…
As behavioral health issues largely manifest during school age, providing support for youth in a school setting allows for a greater chance of behavioral health care usage for them where they spend much of their time. This descriptive study expands on the information collected in the 2013–2014 School-Based Health Alliance (SBHA) national census of school-based…
After the passage of the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, behavioral health coverage has expanded to cover more US citizens. However, access to behavioral health services remains an issue, owing in part to maldistribution of the workforce. The psychiatric workforce, in particular, is in the middle of a…
Accurate enumeration of behavioral health workforce supply and characteristics is important for workforce planning. Although numerous data sources exist for the behavioral health workforce, all have substantial data limitations and comparability across data sources is low. A behavioral health workforce Minimum Data Set (MDS) was developed in 2016 to improve data quality. This qualitative report…
Because 60–80% of all primary care visits include a behavioral health component, providing integrated services in primary care is now considered a priority for health systems as they strive to meet patient needs and improve population health. Integrated care typically involves behavioral healthcare workers such as social workers and psychologists working on teams with primary care…
Providing integrated behavioral health services in primary care is now considered a priority for health systems as 60–80% of all primary care visits include a behavioral health component. Integrated care typically involves behavioral healthcare workers, such as social workers and psychologists, working on teams with primary care providers to help address behavioral health and social…
Co-location of physical and behavioral health is important to integrated care as it facilitates provider communication and continuity of care. However, given the increases in behavioral health and integrated care, our understanding of factors associated with co-location is outdated. This brief describes an update to a past study conducted in 2010 that examined co-location data…
Authorizing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe medication-assisted treatment (MAT) has the potential to expand Americans’ access to opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment, as nurse practitioners are more likely to serve rural and Medicaid-eligible populations than physicians, and physician assistants specialize in expanding physicians’ practice. This report helps to understand how the Comprehensive Addiction…
