title: Medicaid policy changes in mental health care and their effect on mental health outcomes.
abstract: In recent years, Medicaid has experienced a dramatic increase in spending on prescription drugs in general and psychotropic medications in particular. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of increased Medicaid spending on psychotropic drugs on improving the mental health and well-being of participants at the population level. Specifically, we study the effect on outcomes that are strongly correlated with mood disorders, including depression and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder, controlling for concomitant increases in Medicaid eligibility thresholds and expansion into managed care for mental health services. Knowledge of the effects of changes in the Medicaid program is crucial to policymakers as they consider implementing and expanding mental health services. Our results show that increased spending on antidepressants and stimulants are associated with improvements in some outcomes, but not in others.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, NY 10032, USA. doessel@qcmhr.uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Alison Evans
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Cuellar
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Markowitz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014487:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D011050:Policy Making; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs