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Phil Hughes’ Study on SOP Expansions in Pediatric Mental Health Care Featured in AHRQ News Now

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Phil Hughes, PhD, research assistant professor in the Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy and researcher with the Child & Adolescent Health Services Program at the Sheps Center, published a paper in May 2024 titled Pediatric Mental Health Care and Scope-of-Practice Expansions which was featured in recent issue of AHRQ News Now as the top article under the ‘AHRQ in the Professional Literature’ section.

The article, published in May 2024, examines the role of scope-of-practice (SOP) expansions in addressing pediatric mental health care shortages. It highlights how enabling advanced practice providers like nurse practitioners and physician assistants to practice independently improves access to care, especially in underserved areas.

Phil and his coauthors, including Dr. Neal deJong from Department of Pediatrics and Dr. Kathleen Thomas from Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy, analyze policy changes and their impact on mental health outcomes, emphasizing the potential for SOP reforms to reduce gaps in pediatric mental health services.