Availability of Telephone-Based Child Psychiatry Consultation: Implications from a Survey of Pediatric Providers in Two States

Pediatric primary care providers (PCPs) play a critical role in caring for children with mental health concerns. Some states have introduced programs to support PCPs in managing these patients more independently. The Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project consultation program is one example. This study compared responses from PCPs in Massachusetts (n = 73) with PCPs in Indiana (n = 33), a state without a consultation program, to vignettes about children with possible attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or depression. Participants from MA indicated a stronger interest in behavioral health issues and were more likely to screen patients. PCPs from IN were more likely to have completed a rotation in developmental and behavioral pediatrics during residency. IN respondents were also more likely to choose the correct diagnosis for vignettes and less likely to refer to a psychiatric provider for psychotropic medication. Results suggest greater independence for PCPs in IN.