This study evaluated whether uninsured patients living at or below 200% of the federal poverty level who received enhanced, culturally-relevant, integrated behavioral health services were more likely to improve health outcomes after 12 months compared to similar patients receiving usual care from Hope Family Health Center (HFHC), a charitable community clinic. The study employed a randomized control trial (RCT) design where intervention participants receiving integrated care at HFHC were compared to control participants receiving usual care at HFHC. Patients were placed in each group using simple random assignment. Demographic and health outcome data were collected from intervention and control participants at baseline. Health outcome data were subsequently collected at 6-month and 12-month follow-up points. The primary outcomes of interest were systolic and diastolic blood pressure and depressive symptoms. Additional secondary outcomes of interest were HbA1c and BMI. These outcomes were analyzed as continuous variables using linear regression with backward model selection. Longitudinal analyses were also conducted using a likelihood-based approach to general linear mixed models. The participants (1) resided in Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, or Starr County, (2) were eligible to receive behavioral health services from HFHC (e.g., uninsured, living at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, residence in HFHC's service area), and (3) had a diagnosis of hypertension (blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or higher) and/or obesity (body mass index of 30.0 or higher) and/or poorly controlled diabetes (HbA1c over 6.8) and/or moderate depression (score of 10 or above on PHQ-9).
This study evaluated whether uninsured patients living at or below 200% of the federal poverty level who received enhanced, culturally-relevant, integrated behavioral health services were more likely to improve health outcomes after 12 months compared to similar patients receiving usual care from Hope Family Health Center (HFHC), a charitable community clinic. The study employed a randomized control trial (RCT) design where intervention participants receiving integrated care at HFHC were compared to control participants receiving usual care at HFHC. Patients were placed in each group using simple random assignment. Demographic and health outcome data were collected from intervention and control participants at baseline. Health outcome data were subsequently collected at 6-month and 12-month follow-up points.