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Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research

Published in:

01-03-2019 | Original Article

Spillover Effects of Massachusetts Health Reform on Mental Health Use by VA and Medicare Dual Enrollees

Authors: Edwin S. Wong, Matthew L. Maciejewski, Paul L. Hebert, John C. Fortney, Chuan-Fen Liu

Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research | Issue 2/2019

Abstract

Older veterans can obtain care from the Veterans Affairs Health System (VA), Medicare or both. We examined whether their use of mental health care was impacted by capacity effects stemming from younger, uninsured veterans’ enrolling in VA to satisfy the individual mandate within Massachusetts Health Reform (MHR). Using administrative data, we applied a difference-in-difference approach to compare pre-post changes in mental health use following MHR implementation. Findings indicated MHR was associated with increases in use through Medicare and the probability of dual VA-Medicare use. These results provide support for the possibility that limited capacity led to care seeking outside VA.

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Title: Spillover Effects of Massachusetts Health Reform on Mental Health Use by VA and Medicare Dual Enrollees
Authors: Edwin S. Wong
Matthew L. Maciejewski
Paul L. Hebert
John C. Fortney
Chuan-Fen Liu
Publication date: 01-03-2019
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research / Issue 2/2019
Print ISSN: 0894-587X
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3289
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-018-0900-z

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Spillover Effects of Massachusetts Health Reform on Mental Health Use by VA and Medicare Dual Enrollees

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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