The COVID-19 pandemic upended the healthcare system and prompted the use of telehealth by providers in medicine, behavioral health, and oral health. Dental providers are particularly susceptible due to the aerosols generated during dental procedures that could facilitate COVID-19 transmission. This high risk resulted in the suspension of many routine dental procedures in the early…
Community-based doulas provide essential services and expertise which address inequities and systemic gaps in perinatal care. However, as they work to improve perinatal health, doulas themselves are providing equity work amidst an inequitable system and with insufficient political or financial support. Increased compensation and systemic support which acknowledges the breadth of services provided are needed…
The COVID-19 pandemic drove widespread use of telehealth, making the virtual care environment inherently different in 2021 than it had been previously. Due to unique financial constraints facing community health centers (CHCs), the sustainability of telehealth may be highly relevant to the relationship between telehealth utilization and payment parity. This article discusses the association between…
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Obama Administration created the federal Health Insurance Navigator Program, which seeks to reduce the rate of uninsured in the United States. Under this program, navigators help people procure insurance coverage through federally facilitated Marketplaces (or Exchanges). During COVID-19, financial insecurity and substantial budget cuts created increased shortages and…
The State Health Workforce Data Collection Inventory describes findings from a survey about data collection on health workforce supply (eg, demographic, education, and practice characteristics of health professionals), demand (eg, vacancies and employer recruitment and retention difficulties), and the education pipeline (eg, graduation rates and trainee/graduate characteristics). The data collection survey is ongoing and the…
Behavioral health paraprofessionals are essential for assisting in the treatment of patients, supporting clinicians, and helping sustain the behavioral health workforce as a whole. However, due to a number of factors, paraprofessionals experience high levels of turnover and burnout. This report describes a study that conducted a literature review as well as key informant interviews…
The COVID-19 pandemic greatly disrupted access to and the delivery of behavioral health services for many social work providers and their clients. This disruption, coupled with the authorization of tele-behavioral health services through Medicaid, Medicare, and other insurance providers, created a dependence on tele-behavioral health to provide and receive services. This article examines the use…
Studies have shown that the pandemic has increased the prevalence of mental health issues and the demand for behavioral health services. Telehealth services have also been expanded to help deal with the increased demand. To continue to improve workforce capacity and ensure that the current workforce is utilized appropriately, more research needs to be done…
Peer support providers are individuals who have been trained to use their personal experiences with mental illness and substance use disorders to help others in recovery. Organizations that provide behavioral health treatment are increasingly employing peer support providers as vital team members. Prior studies have focused on evaluating the effectiveness of peer providers in terms…
The use of peer providers on behavioral health service teams is a potential solution for reducing costs and improving patient outcomes. Unfortunately, comparative studies of the use of peer providers are methodologically challenging due to the lack of standardization of peer roles and training requirements. This article discusses a study that conducted a literature review…
