How Medicaid managed care affects teen and child mental health
Adolescent Mental Health and the Role of Medicaid Managed Care
The team will compare mental health care and outcomes for children and adolescents on Medicaid managed care to find what helps them get timely, effective care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11320843 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will look at how Medicaid managed care affects mental health services for children and teens. Using national Medicaid claims data (T-MSIS), researchers will track service use, emergency department visits, and continuity of care across states. They will also interview families, clinicians, and managed care organization leaders to understand barriers and promising practices. The goal is to identify managed care policies and practices that lead to better access and outcomes for young people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children and adolescents enrolled in Medicaid managed care plans, and their families, would be the ideal participants for interviews or inclusion in the data analyses.
Not a fit: Youth not covered by Medicaid or those in fee-for-service Medicaid arrangements may not directly benefit from changes focused on managed care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could guide Medicaid policies and managed care practices that improve access to mental health services and reduce emergency visits and suicide risk among youth.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research using Medicaid claims has linked coverage features to service use, but comprehensive mixed-methods work specifically on managed care organizations and youth mental health remains limited.
Where this research is happening
Portland, United States
- Oregon Health & Science University — Portland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcconnell, Kenneth John — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Mcconnell, Kenneth John
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.