Carrie E Fry1, Benjamin D Sommers1. 1. Ms. Fry is a doctoral candidate in health policy and statistics, Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Dr. Sommers is with the Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, and with the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Multiple studies have detailed the relationship between Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act and various health and financial outcomes. However, fewer studies have examined Medicaid expansion's effects on individuals with psychiatric diagnoses. This study sought to determine the relationship between Medicaid expansion and various health and financial outcomes among low-income adults with depression. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study used a random-digit-dial survey of U.S. citizens ages 19-64 with incomes below 138% of the federal poverty level. Surveys were conducted in three southern states (two expansion states, Arkansas and Kentucky, and one nonexpansion state, Texas) between 2013 and 2016. The study sample consisted of those with a positive screen for depression-score of ≥2 on the two-item Patient Health Questionnaire (N=4,853). Survey-weighted difference-in-differences regressions were conducted with insurance status, health care access and utilization, and affordability of care as outcomes of interest. Subgroup analyses stratified the sample on the basis of the respondent's residence in a health professional shortage area (HPSA) in mental health and severity of depression. RESULTS: Medicaid expansion was associated with a significant reduction in the proportion of adults with depression who lacked health insurance (-23 percentage points, 95% confidence interval=-32 to -14, p<.001). Medicaid expansion was also associated with significant reductions in delaying care and medications because of cost. These changes were similar regardless of residence in a mental health HPSA and severity of depression. CONCLUSIONS: Medicaid expansion was associated with improved access to care and medication among persons with depression, even in areas with relative shortages of mental health professionals.
OBJECTIVE: Multiple studies have detailed the relationship between Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act and various health and financial outcomes. However, fewer studies have examined Medicaid expansion's effects on individuals with psychiatric diagnoses. This study sought to determine the relationship between Medicaid expansion and various health and financial outcomes among low-income adults with depression. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study used a random-digit-dial survey of U.S. citizens ages 19-64 with incomes below 138% of the federal poverty level. Surveys were conducted in three southern states (two expansion states, Arkansas and Kentucky, and one nonexpansion state, Texas) between 2013 and 2016. The study sample consisted of those with a positive screen for depression-score of ≥2 on the two-item Patient Health Questionnaire (N=4,853). Survey-weighted difference-in-differences regressions were conducted with insurance status, health care access and utilization, and affordability of care as outcomes of interest. Subgroup analyses stratified the sample on the basis of the respondent's residence in a health professional shortage area (HPSA) in mental health and severity of depression. RESULTS: Medicaid expansion was associated with a significant reduction in the proportion of adults with depression who lacked health insurance (-23 percentage points, 95% confidence interval=-32 to -14, p<.001). Medicaid expansion was also associated with significant reductions in delaying care and medications because of cost. These changes were similar regardless of residence in a mental health HPSA and severity of depression. CONCLUSIONS: Medicaid expansion was associated with improved access to care and medication among persons with depression, even in areas with relative shortages of mental health professionals.
Entities:
Keywords:
Affordable Care Act; Depression; Health care reform; Insurance; Medicaid; health professional shortage areas
Authors: Amy Finkelstein; Sarah Taubman; Bill Wright; Mira Bernstein; Jonathan Gruber; Joseph P Newhouse; Heidi Allen; Katherine Baicker Journal: Q J Econ Date: 2012-05-03
Authors: Katherine Baicker; Sarah L Taubman; Heidi L Allen; Mira Bernstein; Jonathan H Gruber; Joseph P Newhouse; Eric C Schneider; Bill J Wright; Alan M Zaslavsky; Amy N Finkelstein Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2013-05-02 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Umedjon Ibragimov; Russell W Mansfield; Courtney R Yarbrough; Janet R Cummings; Melvin D Livingston; Regine Haardörfer; Stephanie Beane; Monica M Fadanelli; Danielle F Haley; Hannah L F Cooper Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2022-02-26 Impact factor: 4.852