Mental Health Access to Care: Nurse Practitioner–Led Telehealth Practice

Expansion of full practice authority for nurse practitioners (NPs), coupled with the evolving use of telemedicine, can improve access to care. This project sought to gain a better understanding of how an NP-led integrated telemedicine practice provides access to mental health care in Maryland. Two hundred seventy-five patient zip codes were compared with Health Resources and Services Administration mental health shortage areas. Results showed the reach of the practice extends to 67% of all counties in the state, providing care to 69% of counties with the highest mental health needs. NP-led telemedicine practices can expand statewide access to care, and findings will help target high-need areas not currently served. •Maryland has 64 federally designated mental health professional shortage areas.•Nurse practitioners can use telemedicine services to improve access to care in underserved areas.•Integrated mental health and primary care services improve patient outcomes.•One nurse practitioner–led integrated care telehealth practice extended care to 66.7% of all counties.•Access to care can be intentionally expanded by assessing service areas in the state.