Compliance with mental health and other specialty care referrals among Medicare/Medicaid dual enrollees.
OBJECTIVE
To examine and compare non-compliance with mental health and other specialty referrals among low-income elderly.


METHODS
A survey of 2,128 community-dwelling elderly assessed mental health and other specialty referral in the past year and compliance with these referrals. Non-compliant participants and those who had encountered difficulties in arranging referral appointments were asked about the barriers.


RESULTS
16.7% with mental health referrals vs. 4.8% with other specialty referrals did not comply (p < .001). The main reason for non-compliance with mental health referrals was lack of perceived need.


CONCLUSIONS
Lack of perceived need for professional help is a major barrier to specialty mental health care.
Mojtabai
Ramin
R
Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY, USA. rm322@columbia.edu
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid; D006278:Medicare; D008511:Medicine; D008605:Mental Health Services; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011203:Poverty; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013038:Specialization; D014481:United States