Beneficiaries prevented millions of medical visits due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Source / Disclosures

Disclosures:
Healio Psychiatry was unable to confirm Richter’s relevant financial disclosures at the time of reporting.

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CMS today released data showing that beneficiaries prevented millions of primary, preventive and mental health care visits between March 2020 and October 2020 due to the public health emergency COVID-19.

Utilization rates have returned to pre-pandemic levels for certain treatments; however, mental health services had the slowest rebound.

“This new data provides a window into the impacts of the pandemic for marginalized communities, particularly children and other vulnerable people, and is critical because we work to meet the needs of those who depend on Medicaid and [Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)]”, CMS Acting Administrator Liz Richter he said in a press release. “While we are encouraged to give people access to some health care services at pre-pandemic levels, there is a lot of work to be done to connect people to mental health care services and make sure we fill the gap in other types of services caused by the pandemic “.

Analysis of CMS submissions showed a 34% decrease in the use of mental health services among people under the age of 19 compared to the same period in 2019, as well as a 22% decrease among adults aged 19 and over. at 64 years of age compared to the same period in 2019. Overall, children had approximately 14 million fewer interactions with mental health services and adults had approximately 12 million fewer. In addition, the use of the substance use disorder service decreased by 3.6 million services compared to the same period in 2019.

According to the statement, rates of use of certain primary and preventive services among children under the age of 19 have returned to pre-pandemic levels or have shown signs of rebounding in many parts of the United States; however, to compensate for services lost between March 2020 and October 2020, millions of services will still need to be provided.

CMS has emphasized mental health care in its Connecting Kids to Coverage Campaign, aimed at bridging service gaps through a national outreach and enrollment initiative that conducts outreach activities to families with children and teens eligible for to Medicaid and CHIP.

“[CMS] is committed to connecting people and children with health care, including mental health care, ”Richter said in the statement.

Reference:

CMS. CMS data show that vulnerable Americans receive mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Accessed May 14, 2021. Available at: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-data-shows-vulnerable-americans-forgoing-mental-health-care-during-covid-19 -pandemic.