Mental health services as part of pediatric primary care improves mental health care engagement for children

New research led by Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Public Health has found that integrating mental health services into pediatric primary care at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) can improve access to and engagement in mental health care for Medicaid-enrolled children. This research compared healthcare utilization, psychotropic medication use, and follow-up care among Medicaid-enrolled children aged 3 to 17 years at FQHCs that had implemented a model of mental health integration known as TEAM UP for Children to FQHCs that had not implemented the model.