Change in mental health service delivery among blacks, whites, and Hispanics in the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The authors analyzed changes in access to and use of mental health services by minorities in the Veterans Health Administration during a period of major system change (1995-2001). Blacks had poorer outpatient access than Whites during this period of change, but were not further disadvantaged over time, and their access to care improved relative to Whites on some measures. For Hispanics, there was a trend toward greater inequality in the delivery of outpatient mental health care. These results suggest a need to monitor and address the differential impact on minorities of changes in mental health service delivery.
Greenberg
Greg A
GA
Northeast Program Evaluation Center, Veterans Affairs Medical Clinic, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516, USA. Greenberg@biomed.med.yale.edu
Rosenheck
Robert A
RA
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000639:trends*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data