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Zhang Y, Peña MT, Lal LS, Lin YY, Summers RL, Saurabh C, Swint JM. Assessing Telemental Health Uptake and Associated Health Care Resource Implications among Mississippi Medicaid Enrollees with Major Depression. Telemed J E Health 2024. [PMID: 38934133 DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2024.0112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective: Investigate the association between Telemental Health (TMH) uptake and sociodemographic characteristics, and how TMH uptake relates to health care resource utilization and Medicaid expenditures among Mississippi Medicaid enrollees with major depression. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted (2019-2020), comparing those who utilized TMH and those who did not. Results: Among the 21,239 identified enrollees, 806 (3.79%) utilized TMH. The TMH cohort was more likely to be of older age, non-Hispanic White, comprehensive managed care organization enrollees, rural residents, and from areas with a higher area deprivation index, and have higher Charlson comorbidity index scores. The TMH cohort also exhibited higher mental health-related and all-cause outpatient and emergency department utilization, along with higher Medicaid expenditures. Conclusion: As the first study investigating telehealth utilization among Mississippi Medicaid enrollees, this study highlights sociodemographic disparities in telehealth adoption. Addressing barriers hindering telehealth adoption among vulnerable populations and ensuring the availability of quality data are vital for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxi Zhang
- Department of Data Science, John D. Bower School of Population Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Center for Telehealth, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Maria T Peña
- Department of Management, Policy and Community Health, The University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Lincy S Lal
- Department of Management, Policy and Community Health, The University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Yueh-Yun Lin
- Center for Telehealth, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Richard L Summers
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Chandra Saurabh
- Center for Telehealth, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - J Michael Swint
- Department of Management, Policy and Community Health, The University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, Texas, USA
- Institute for Clinical Research and Learning Healthcare, John P. and Katherine G. McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
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Zhang Y, Lal LS, Lin YY, Swint JM, Zhang Y, Summers RL, Jones BF, Chandra S, Ladner ME. Tele-Mental Health Service: Unveiling the Disparity and Impact on Healthcare Access and Expenditures during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mississippi. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:819. [PMID: 39063396 PMCID: PMC11276461 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21070819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, tele-mental health (TMH) was a viable approach for providing accessible mental and behavioral health (MBH) services. This study examines the sociodemographic disparities in TMH utilization and its effects on healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and medical expenditures in Mississippi. Utilizing a cohort of 6787 insured adult patients at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and its affiliated sites between January 2020 and June 2023, including 3065 who accessed TMH services, we observed sociodemographic disparities between TMH and non-TMH cohorts. The TMH cohort was more likely to be younger, female, White/Caucasian, using payment methods other than Medicare, Medicaid, or commercial insurers, residing in rural areas, and with higher household income compared to the non-TMH cohort. Adjusting for sociodemographic factors, TMH utilization was associated with a 190% increase in MBH-related outpatient visits, a 17% increase in MBH-related medical expenditures, and a 12% decrease in all-cause medical expenditures (all p < 0.001). Among rural residents, TMH utilization was associated with a 205% increase in MBH-related outpatient visits and a 19% decrease in all-cause medical expenditures (both p < 0.001). This study underscores the importance of addressing sociodemographic disparities in TMH services to promote equitable healthcare access while reducing overall medical expenditures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxi Zhang
- Department of Data Science, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
- Center for Telehealth, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA; (Y.-Y.L.); (S.C.)
| | - Lincy S. Lal
- Department of Management, Policy and Community Health, The University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (L.S.L.); (J.M.S.)
| | - Yueh-Yun Lin
- Center for Telehealth, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA; (Y.-Y.L.); (S.C.)
| | - J. Michael Swint
- Department of Management, Policy and Community Health, The University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (L.S.L.); (J.M.S.)
- John P and Katherine G McGovern Medical School, Institute for Clinical Research and Learning Healthcare, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ying Zhang
- Center for Informatics and Analytics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA;
| | - Richard L. Summers
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA;
| | - Barbara F. Jones
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA; (B.F.J.); (M.E.L.)
| | - Saurabh Chandra
- Center for Telehealth, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA; (Y.-Y.L.); (S.C.)
- Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
| | - Mark E. Ladner
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA; (B.F.J.); (M.E.L.)
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