Researchers analyzed insurance claims of more than 2 million children ages 10 to 17 covered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield between 2012 and 2018. Nearly 10 percent of children had a claim related to a mental health condition during this time period, reports STAT.
Seventy-one percent of children with an insurance claim for a mental health condition received follow-up care within three months. Forty-two percent of children were enrolled in therapy, 23 percent were prescribed medication, and 6 percent received both therapy and a medication within three months.
Of the children who were prescribed a medication, 45 percent received a drug that is not FDA-approved for their age or that raises “a red flag when viewed through the lens of treatment guidelines,” study authors said.
Very little of this care variation can be explained by shortages of mental health professionals, and about half of the variation occurred within the same ZIP codes, researchers said.
“These results suggest that other factors, such as physician practice style, may play an important role in the types of treatment that children receive,” they concluded.
To view the study, click here.
More articles on patient safety & outcomes:
Dartmouth-Hitchcock performs 1,000th transplant
Black newborn mortality rate cut in half when cared by Black physicians
10 tips for preventing medication errors during COVID-19 surges
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
