Examining the Relationship Between COVID-19 Prevalence and Depression Care at Community Health Centers: Assessing 2020 Data

Objective:The author examined associations between COVID-19 prevalence at community health centers (CHCs) and the percentage of eligible CHC patients who had ongoing depression care documented in 2020.Methods:Using 2020 Uniform Data System data, the author analyzed 1,113 CHCs in the 50 U.S. states (representing 26,865,015 total patients). Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine associations between COVID-19 prevalence and the percentage of patients who screened positive for depression and had follow-up depression care documented at CHCs in 2020.Results:On average, each increase of 1 percentage point in COVID-19 prevalence within a CHC patient population was independently associated with a 0.47-percentage point decrease of eligible patients with a follow-up depression care plan documented in 2020.Conclusions:Findings appear to be consistent with recent evidence indicating disruptions in health care delivery coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. This observation is concerning given the history of mental health disparities experienced by patients with lower incomes.