Federally Qualified Health Centers Use of Telehealth to Deliver Integrated Behavioral Health Care During COVID-19

Community Ment Health J. 2024 Feb;60(2):215-223. doi: 10.1007/s10597-022-01070-1. Epub 2022 Dec 22.

Abstract

Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) that provide comprehensive health services, including integrated behavioral health (IBH), transitioned to deliver care via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explored how FQHCs adapted IBH services using telehealth. A mixed-method design was used, pairing a survey disseminated to FQHC administrators with a structured interview. Of the 46 administrators who participated in the survey, 14 (30.4%) reported delivering IBH using telecommunication prior to the pandemic. Since COVID-19, almost all of the FQHCs surveyed used telecommunication to deliver IBH (n = 44, 95.7%). Nine interviews with FQHC administrators resulted in the four themes: telehealth was essential; core components of IBH were impacted; payment parity and reimbursement were a concern; and telehealth addressed workforce issues. Findings confirm the necessity of telehealth for FQHCs during COVID-19. However due to the lack of co-location, warm-handoffs and other core components of IBH were limited.

Keywords: COVID-19; Federally qualified health centers; Integrated behavioral health; Tele-behavioral health.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Health Services
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • Primary Health Care
  • Telemedicine*