A new study from University of Iowa researchers highlights the positive impact of telemental health services (TMHS) on mental health care utilization in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), particularly in rural and low-income communities.

Mental health issues disproportionately affect these populations, where access to care is often limited. The study, which analyzed data from 9,540 FQHC-year reports spanning 2016 to 2022, found that FQHCs offering TMHS saw a 4% increase in mental health visits compared to those without TMHS.

Centers serving higher proportions of Medicaid-insured and low-income individuals saw even greater increases in mental health visit rates. Notably, FQHCs that adopted TMHS during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced a 5% increase in mental health visits, with urban centers benefiting more significantly than rural ones.

According to Khyathi Gadag, a PhD candidate in the University of Iowa’s Department of Health Management and Policy and lead author of the study, the research provides crucial evidence that telemental health services can bridge gaps in mental health care, particularly for low-income and Medicaid-insured populations served by FQHCs.

“By demonstrating increased utilization of mental health services in FQHCs that offered the telemental health services, our findings reinforce the need for sustained telehealth policies that support equitable access,” Gadag says. “However, the disparities between rural and urban FQHCs highlight the ongoing need for targeted strategies to ensure all communities can benefit from these advancements.”

Kanika Arora, associate professor, and Whitney Zahnd, assistant professor, both in the UI College of Public Health’s Department of Health Management and Policy, are co-authors of the study.