Abstract
This report evaluates whether consideration of out-of-system use affects Veterans Affairs (VA) health system assessments of depression treatment. We measured effective medication management and optimal practitioner contacts among veterans whose VA data indicated a new episode of depression. Among 3,567 VA patients who were Medicare age-eligible, VA data indicated that 69% received recommended antidepressant coverage and 9% received recommended practitioner contacts. After including Medicare data, 295 patients (8%) no longer met inclusion criteria. Among the remainder, 3% received Medicare depression treatment and 0.5% were re-classified as having recommended contacts. Medicare use does not substantially supplement VA depression treatment.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 468-476 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research |
| Volume | 35 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 1 2008 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Medicare
- Mental health
- Quality of care
- VA health care system
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Phychiatric Mental Health
- Health Policy
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Psychiatry and Mental health
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Cite this
McCarthy, J. F., Zivin, K., Austin, K. L., Kales, H. C., & Valenstein, M. (2008). Does consideration of medicare use affect VA evaluations of treatment for new episodes of depression? Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 35(6), 468-476. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-008-0190-y