- In a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, Included Health and Harvard Medical School investigated the impact of reintroducing out-of-pocket costs on the utilization of virtual behavioral health care among patients in high deductible health plans (HDHPs). The study focused on approximately 15,000 patients across all states and D.C., comparing their telemental health care usage when telehealth services were fully covered versus when cost-sharing was reintroduced midway through 2021. Results showed a significant decrease in telemental health visits and an increase in discontinuation of services when patients had to pay out-of-pocket, emphasizing the deterrent effect of financial barriers on accessing mental health care. Ami Parekh, chief health officer at Included Health, highlighted concerns that if current telehealth cost-sharing waivers expire, fewer patients in HDHPs may access virtual behavioral health services, potentially leading to poorer health outcomes. (Article here)
July 17, 2024
Mental Health | Tea Leaves