Importance of Virtual Access for Mental Health Services: Evidence from ESI Population
Author(s)
Yuvraj Pathak, PhD, Marissa Myers, MPP.
West Health Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
West Health Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: Using the latest available claims data from 2022, this paper characterizes the role of telehealth in delivering mental health care for the commercial population after telehealth use skyrocketed during the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency. We contrast the utilization level for three types of beneficiaries based on their mode of receiving care and illuminate the role of telehealth in care adherence. Using the distance between providers and beneficiaries, we also show the drivers of high telehealth use for mental health services.
METHODS: Based on the mode of receiving care, we categorize mental health beneficiaries into three types- 1) in-person only, 2) telehealth only, and 3) hybrid, based on whether they receive care in-person, through telehealth, or both, respectively. We compare the average monthly utilization across these groups to understand the role of telehealth in delivering mental health care. Using the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), we also identify the provider types these beneficiary groups utilize for mental health services. Lastly, we use the beneficiary and provider zip codes to calculate the distance between a beneficiary and their respective provider.
RESULTS: We have two main findings: First, we find the hybrid group- those utilizing mental health care both in-person and virtually - has the highest utilization (~13 claims/beneficiaries), followed by telehealth only (~8 claims/beneficiaries) and in-person only (~3-4 claims/beneficiaries). Second, using the estimated distance between the provider and beneficiary, we find that almost 75% of mental health services provided via telehealth are from providers located within 25 miles of the beneficiaries.
CONCLUSIONS: We show that telehealth leads to better adherence in terms of the number of follow-up visits in comparison to the in-person group. We find that telehealth is associated with higher utilization of similar services by similar providers than compared to in-person only group. This suggests the ease and convenience of telehealth.
METHODS: Based on the mode of receiving care, we categorize mental health beneficiaries into three types- 1) in-person only, 2) telehealth only, and 3) hybrid, based on whether they receive care in-person, through telehealth, or both, respectively. We compare the average monthly utilization across these groups to understand the role of telehealth in delivering mental health care. Using the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), we also identify the provider types these beneficiary groups utilize for mental health services. Lastly, we use the beneficiary and provider zip codes to calculate the distance between a beneficiary and their respective provider.
RESULTS: We have two main findings: First, we find the hybrid group- those utilizing mental health care both in-person and virtually - has the highest utilization (~13 claims/beneficiaries), followed by telehealth only (~8 claims/beneficiaries) and in-person only (~3-4 claims/beneficiaries). Second, using the estimated distance between the provider and beneficiary, we find that almost 75% of mental health services provided via telehealth are from providers located within 25 miles of the beneficiaries.
CONCLUSIONS: We show that telehealth leads to better adherence in terms of the number of follow-up visits in comparison to the in-person group. We find that telehealth is associated with higher utilization of similar services by similar providers than compared to in-person only group. This suggests the ease and convenience of telehealth.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
HSD70
Topic
Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Disease
SDC: Mental Health (including addition)