Access to Initial Child Psychiatry Appointment Is Very Difficult

Background: There is often quite a contrast between published lists of available psychiatrists and the reality patients and families often experience in actually trying to get an initial appointment. A new study examines this discrepancy within the child and adolescent psychiatry world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: To examine access to outpatient child psychiatry services from a patient perspective. Design: Simulated-patient investigation. Methods: Across 3 U.S. cities (Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles), authors posing as the parents of a 10-year-old child with possible depression who recently was in the emergency department called 322 psychiatrists who were listed in major insurer databases. One key variable of interest was the insurance coverage of the simulated patient as being Blue Cross-Blue Shield, Medicaid, or self-pay. Results: Overall, the authors were able to schedule an initial appointment only 11% of the time, with about one-third of these only being available more...