There was a rapid transition to tele-behavioral health during the COVID-19 pandemic, but how the move to tele-behavioral health may have impacted the delivery of integrated behavioral health (IBH) services in the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) clinics is relatively unknown. This study aimed to explore how FQHCs adapted IBH care delivery during the pandemic. In particular, this study assessed barriers to IBH during COVID-19, as well as tele-behavioral health uptake, use, and adaptation, and goals for future use of tele-communication at FQHCs beyond COVID-19.
Findings
Overall study findings suggest that tele-behavioral health was essential to providing IBH services at FQHCs during COVID-19. This study along with others demonstrate that providers and administrators want tele-behavioral health to be an option for care beyond the pandemic.
