Changes in satisfaction with mental health services among blacks, whites, and Hispanics in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

This paper presents an analysis of changes in satisfaction of minorities with inpatient mental health services provided by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) during a period of major system change (1995-2001). Post discharge data from 16,223 veterans who received inpatient VHA mental healthservices at 87 medical centers during this period was examined using hierarchical linear models. Blacks were found to have higher satisfaction levels on most measures over the period of study while the satisfaction of whites and Hispanics were not significantly different. There was little change over the study period in the relative satisfaction of minorities and whites. Changes in patterns of VHA mental health care have not adversely affected the satisfaction of minority veterans.