Full Citation
Title: The Effects of Federal Parity on Mental Health Services Use and Spending: Evidence From the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey
Citation Type: Journal Article
Publication Year: 2019
ISBN:
ISSN: 1075-2730
DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201800313
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Abstract: Objective:This study evaluated the effects of the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008 on the use of outpatient and clinic-based mental health services and spending on those services.Methods:Data came from the 2005–2013 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. The analytic sample included adults ages 26–64 who were continuously enrolled in employer-sponsored insurance for a calendar year (N=66,602 person-year observations). A difference-in-differences study design was used to compare changes in outcomes before and after implementation of the MHPAEA between people whose insurance plan was or was not affected by the law.Results:The federal parity law was not significantly associated with changes in the likelihood of using mental health services, the amount of mental health services used, or total or out of-pocket spending for mental health services. The law was marginally significantly associated with a shift toward more use of mental health specialty services rather than primary ...
Url: https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ps.201800313
User Submitted?: No
Authors: Drake, Coleman; Busch, Susan H; Golberstein, Ezra
Periodical (Full): Psychiatric Services
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Volume:
Pages: appi.ps.2018003
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