Improving Outcomes of Care for HRSA-Funded Health Center Patients Who Have Mental Health Conditions and Substance Use Disorders

J Behav Health Serv Res. 2020 Apr;47(2):168-188. doi: 10.1007/s11414-019-09665-5.

Abstract

The rising prevalence of mental health conditions and substance use disorders (MH/SUD) underscores the important role of health centers (HCs) in caring for low-income and uninsured MH/SUD patients. This study used the 2014 Health Center Patient Survey and 2014 Uniform Data System to determine the independent association between delivery of MH/SUD integration and related interventions to patients that reported a MH/SUD condition (n=2714) with the number of HC visits, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalizations last year. Results showed that health education was associated with fewer predicted ED visits (1.8 vs. 2.3) and lower likelihood of hospitalizations (16% vs. 24%) among MH patients. Medical enabling services was associated with lower rates of ED visits (0.3 vs.1.9) and hospitalizations (< 1% vs. 13%) among SUD patients. The results indicate the utility of integration and related intervention services in primary care settings to improve service use and reduce ED and hospitalization among MH/SUD patients.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Community Mental Health Services / organization & administration
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Health Services Accessibility / statistics & numerical data*
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medically Uninsured / statistics & numerical data*
  • Mental Health
  • Mental Health Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Middle Aged
  • Poverty / statistics & numerical data*
  • Primary Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Safety-net Providers / statistics & numerical data*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • United States
  • United States Health Resources and Services Administration / statistics & numerical data*
  • Young Adult