Behavioral Health Trends Among Perinatal North Carolina Medicaid Beneficiaries

Area of Science:

• Perinatal mental health
• Healthcare access and disparities
• Medicaid utilization

Background:

• Untreated perinatal behavioral health conditions pose significant risks for maternal and infant mortality and morbidity.
• The perinatal period is a critical window for addressing mental health concerns.
• Medicaid beneficiaries represent a key population experiencing these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine trends in behavioral health conditions among perinatal Medicaid beneficiaries from 2017 to 2022.
• To analyze the treatment patterns, including psychotropic prescriptions and behavioral health services, received by this population.
• To describe the characteristics of healthcare providers serving perinatal Medicaid beneficiaries.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of Medicaid claims data from 2017 to 2022.
• Identification of beneficiaries with behavioral health diagnoses during the perinatal period.
• Quantification of psychotropic prescription fills and behavioral health service utilization.

Main Results:

• A substantial proportion (24.4%) of perinatal Medicaid beneficiaries were diagnosed with a behavioral health condition.
• Psychotropic medication was prescribed to 13.8% of these beneficiaries.
• Only 7.1% received formal behavioral health services, indicating a treatment gap.

Conclusions:

• Significant prevalence of behavioral health conditions exists within the perinatal Medicaid population.
• Treatment engagement, particularly for behavioral health services, is low, suggesting unmet needs.
• Further research and interventions are needed to improve access to care for perinatal mental health.