University of Texas Medicaid Pediatric Telepsychiatry Program Reduced Emergency Department Visits by 50%

A pediatric telepsychiatry program operated by the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB Health) for children enrolled in the Texas Medicaid program reduced emergency department visits by half. The telepsychiatry program, the UTMB Telehealth Network for Children (UTNC), was started in 2009. Before the program started, nine percent of children surveyed visited an emergency department for psychiatric crisis at least one time. In 2010, only five percent of children made a psychiatric emergency department visit. By reducing the number of emergency department visits among this group of children whose parents were surveyed, the Texas Medicaid plan saved at least $11 . . .