During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemental health—including video and phone visits—became essential for delivering mental healthcare as in-person visits declined and demand increased. Regulatory and payment changes at both federal and state levels in the US enabled its rapid expansion, with usage rising from under 1% pre-pandemic to 39% of behavioral health visits between March and August 2021. This swift shift was seen across outpatient settings, including federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), which serve medically underserved communities.

This article examines the use of virtual behavioral healthcare services at HRSA-supported FQHCs by clinician type, and how staffing and other organizational characteristics are related to telemental health delivery.