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. 2019 May;46(3):334-351.
doi: 10.1007/s10488-018-00916-9.

Policy Levers to Promote Access to and Utilization of Children's Mental Health Services: A Systematic Review

Marvin So  1   2 , Russell F McCord  3   4 , Jennifer W Kaminski  3
Affiliations

Policy Levers to Promote Access to and Utilization of Children's Mental Health Services: A Systematic Review

Marvin So et al. Adm Policy Ment Health. 2019 May.

Abstract

Policies have potential to help families obtain behavioral healthcare for their children, but little is known about evidence for specific policy approaches. We reviewed evaluations of select policy levers to promote accessibility, affordability, acceptability, availability, or utilization of children's mental and behavioral health services. Twenty articles met inclusion criteria. Location-based policy levers (school-based services and integrated care models) were associated with higher utilization and acceptability, with mixed evidence on accessibility. Studies of insurance-based levers (mental health parity and public insurance) provided some evidence for affordability outcomes. We found no eligible studies of workforce development or telehealth policy levers, or of availability outcomes.

Keywords: Children’s mental health; Mental healthcare access; Mental healthcare utilization; Policy; Psychological services.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest M. So, R.F. McCord, and J.W. Kaminski declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) flow diagram for systematic review on policy levers to promote access to and utilization of children’s mental health services (Moher et al. 2009)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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