How Medicaid provider networks affect care for adults with bipolar disorder
The Effects of Provider Networks on Medicaid Enrollees with Mental Health Conditions
This project looks at whether the number, types, and stability of mental-health providers in Medicaid plans change how adults with bipolar disorder get care and medications.
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-11262325 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient point of view, researchers will use national Medicaid billing and prescription records from 2016–2023 to see how differences in managed-care provider networks relate to visits, medication fills, and hospital stays for adults with bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions. They will measure network size, provider turnover, and specialty mix for each Medicaid plan and link those features to individual service use and outcomes. The team will compare people across states and plans to find which network features are tied to better continuity of care and fewer acute events. The analysis uses already-collected claims and pharmacy data rather than bringing people into a clinic, so results reflect real-world Medicaid experiences.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The relevant population is adults (21+) enrolled in Medicaid managed-care plans who have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder or other mental health conditions.
Not a fit: People who are not enrolled in Medicaid (for example, those with private insurance, Medicare-only beneficiaries, or children) are unlikely to be directly affected by this analysis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help Medicaid programs design and monitor provider networks to improve access, treatment continuity, and outcomes for people with bipolar disorder.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has linked provider networks to physical-health outcomes, but applying large national Medicaid claims to measure mental-health network effects is less common and represents a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Portland, United States
- Oregon Health & Science University — Portland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhu, Jane Mingjia — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Zhu, Jane Mingjia
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.