Telemental Health Services Improve Access to Mental Health Treatment for Publicly Insured Children with Depression

Researchers at the Rollins School of Public Health and Emory University School of Medicine conducted a study that found telemental health services significantly improved access to mental health treatment for publicly insured children with depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed claims data for nearly 800,000 publicly insured children and adolescents across 41 states and Washington, D.C., from 2016 through 2020. The researchers found that telemental health services were particularly effective in reducing barriers to care, such as distance to care, transportation availability, and family schedules.

Key Takeaways:

• The share of publicly insured children with depression receiving telemental health rose from 4.5% pre-pandemic to 49.8% in 2020, while clinic-only care declined from 76.8% to 43.1%.
• Publicly insured children with depression who received telemental health or in-school mental health services were more likely to have at least four mental health visits than those who received clinic-only care.
• The researchers found that telemental health services were an important mechanism for maintaining depression treatment among publicly insured children and adolescents in 2020, with 49.8% receiving telemental health compared to 43.1% receiving clinic-only care.
• The study suggests that telemental health services have the potential to reduce access barriers and support timely mental health care for publicly insured children with depression.
• Janet Cummings, PhD, lead author, emphasizes the importance of continued access to telemental health services to maintain depression treatment among publicly insured children and adolescents.
• The study highlights the growing need for mental health services among children, with nearly four in 10 children in the United States covered by public insurance programs such as Medicaid.

Statistics:

• 49.8% of publicly insured children with depression received telemental health in 2020, up from 4.5% pre-pandemic.
• 43.1% of publicly insured children with depression received clinic-only care in 2020, down from 76.8% pre-pandemic.
• 2.6% of the sample received any mental health services in school settings in 2020, down from 7.3% pre-pandemic.
• Nearly four in 10 children in the United States are covered by public insurance programs such as Medicaid (2023).

Sources:

• https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2838108 (original study published in JAMA Network Open)
• https://sph.emory.edu/news/telemental-health-services-improved-access-mental-health-treatment-publicly-insured-children (original news release from Emory University Rollins School of Public Health)