Behavioral health service utilization: Trends in utilization within a patient-centered medical home for low-income children and women

BACKGROUND: Behavioral health (BH) problems frequently present in primary care settings. Despite high intervention needs, the majority of low-income, racially/ethnically diverse children and women do not receive necessary care. The current study examined utilization of BH care among low-income, racially/ethnically diverse pediatric and obstetric patients receiving services in an integrated patient-centered medical home (the Center) compared to patients receiving services in traditional settings. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on all consecutive Texas Children's Health Plan (TCHP) patients who received outpatient BH services between 2015 and 2017. Children and woman who utilized BH services at the Center were compared against those who utilized BH services via a traditional sitting outside the Center. RESULTS: A total of 54,612 were identified. Of those, 3,559 (6.5%) patients were seen at the Center and 51,053 (93.5%) patients were seen in the traditional setting. A larger proportion of pregnant/postpartum women and African American and Hispanic/Latino children and women utilized BH services in the PCMH compared to the traditional setting. Results also indicated higher levels of BH service use for patients with behavior problems or anxiety disorders, and increased use of services provided by doctoral level psychologists in the PCMH. CONCLUSION: Findings support the benefit of integrated BH services in PCMH models for engaging traditionally marginalized populations in BH care.