Geographic variations in use of medicaid mental health services

Ezra Golberstein, Taeho Greg Rhee, Thomas G. McGuire

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

An extensive literature documents geographic variations in patterns of health services use and spending but virtually ignores mental health services. The authors assessed geographic variations in use of and spending on mental health services among adult disabled Medicaid recipients with mental illness. Data were derived from 2008 Medicaid claims in 35 states. Per capita annual inpatient days, ambulatory visits, psychotropic medication fills, and spending on psychiatric services varied widely across regions. The proportion of total variation explained by interstate differences ranged from 43% (inpatient days) to 71% (ambulatory visits). Understanding these variations more thoroughly may help improve the effectiveness and efficiency of mental health services delivered under Medicaid.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)452-454
Number of pages3
JournalPsychiatric Services
Volume66
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2015

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Geographic variations in use of medicaid mental health services'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this