News Report | October 12, 2020
Behavioral Health Utilization Dropped 41% Between March & May 2020 Among New York City Residents With Serious Mental Illness
Health care claims for New York City residents indicate that between March and May 2020 behavioral health care utilization dropped by 41.2% among people diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI) compared to utilization during the same period in 2019. The March to May period was during the height of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the New York City. SMI was defined as bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and personality disorders. In 2019, about 67% of members with one of the four SMI conditions accessed behavioral health services. During 2020, only 43% accessed behavioral health services . . .