title: An Exploration of Behavioral Health Productivity and Billing Practices Within Pediatric Primary Care.
abstract: OBJECTIVES : To provide descriptive information on behavioral health (BH) productivity and billing practices within a pediatric primary care setting. METHODS : This retrospective investigation reviewed 30 months of electronic medical records and financial data. RESULTS : The percent of BH provider time spent in direct patient care (productivity) was 35.28% overall, with a slightly higher quarterly average (M  =  36.42%; SD  =  6.46%). In the 646.75 hr BH providers spent in the primary care setting, $52,050.00 was charged for BH services delivered ($80.48 hourly average). CONCLUSIONS : BH productivity and billing within pediatric primary care were suboptimal and likely multifactorially derived. To promote integrated primary care sustainability, the authors recommend three future aims: improve BH productivity, demonstrate the value-added contributions of BH services within primary care, and advocate for BH-supporting health care reform.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Hurley Children's Hospital at Hurley Medical Center ccedern1@hurleymc.com.
authors: Crystal L
authors: CL
authors: Cederna-Meko
authors: Department of Pediatric Urology, Children's Hospital of Michigan.
authors: Rebecca E H
authors: RE
authors: Ellens
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Hurley Children's Hospital at Hurley Medical Center.
authors: Katherine M
authors: KM
authors: Burrell
authors: Division of Behavioral Health, Nemours/A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children.
authors: Danika S
authors: DS
authors: Perry
authors: Department of Neuro Trauma, Hurley Medical Center.
authors: Fatima
authors: F
authors: Rafiq
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005249:Fees and Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States
keywords: adolescents; children; health care services; primary care