Policy

Announcement: New Policy Brief

Telehealth

The onset of COVID-19 resulted in unprecedented changes in the preferred modality of health services delivery. Safety concerns regarding in-person visits and risk of COVID-19 transmission led policymakers to fully embrace telehealth for clinical care delivery. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services implemented a number of COVID-19 flexibilities and waivers to make telehealth visits more accessible for patients and providers. Many states also implemented additional polices to further improve the availability of telehealth. This report presents initial findings regarding potential racial/ethnic differences in the geographic distribution of and access to Medicaid-eligible behavioral health services and facilities in Connecticut.

DOES TELEHEALTH REDUCE GEOGRAPHIC BARRIERS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE FOR CONNECTICUT’S MEDICAID BENEFICIARIES OF COLOR?
Willie C. Frazier III, M.P.H., Emil Coman, Ph.D., Thomas P. Agresta, M.D., M.B.I.; Wizdom Powell PhD, M.P.H.

Funded by the Commonwealth Fund’s Medicaid program to study behavioral health disparities, this grant supports HDI’s efforts to investigate the patterns of behavioral health services use among Black adult male Medicaid beneficiaries in Connecticut, and the geographic distribution of the behavioral health in-person and telehealth services they access. This is the first brief in the series.

HDI is participating in #UConnGives! All Paws In!

Save the Date!

Mark your calendar for #UConnGives on March 23-24 and team up with the UConn Health Disparities Institute (HDI) in gearing up for the #BMOCSummit.

What is the #BMOCSummit? Held during Men’s Health Month in June, the community-centered, virtual State of Health Equity among Boys & Men of Color Summit & Ideas Lab will propel research, practice, and policy transformation innovation to advance health equity and radical healing among boys and men of color.

#UConnGives, the third annual giving day for UConn, will take place on March 23-24, 2021 and we are participating to raise funds for the #BMOCSummit! For 36 hours, all of UConn Nation will be coming together to support the university and communities we love. We hope you will join us and support the #BMOCSummit.

Can we count on your support on March 23-24th? Be part of the change! Be a Summit donor.

Best,
HDI Team

P.S. Help us promote or follow us using the hashtags, #BMOCSummit and #UConnGives. Tag us @UConnHDI on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram too! All Paws In!

Uconn Gives