How Where You Live Affects Health and Lifespan for People on Medicaid
Access to Healthcare as a Driver of Place-Based Inequality in Mid-Life Mortality: Evidence from Movers in Medicaid
This project looks at how access to healthcare in different areas might explain why some low-income Americans pass away earlier, especially from drug, alcohol, and suicide-related causes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11093577 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We know that where you live in America can impact your health and how long you live, particularly for those with lower incomes. This difference has grown over time, with more people in mid-life experiencing deaths related to drug use, alcohol, and suicide. This project explores if limited access to mental health and substance use disorder treatments in certain areas is a key reason for these health differences. By looking at data from people on Medicaid, we hope to understand how location affects their access to care and, in turn, their health outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project analyzes existing data from individuals enrolled in Medicaid, particularly those experiencing mid-life mortality related to behavioral health issues.
Not a fit: Patients not on Medicaid or those whose health outcomes are not related to place-based access to behavioral healthcare may not directly benefit from the findings of this specific data analysis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help policymakers understand how to improve access to behavioral healthcare services in specific communities, potentially saving lives and reducing health inequalities.
How similar studies have performed: It is well-documented that place-based inequalities in health exist, and this project builds upon that understanding by focusing on access to behavioral healthcare as a specific driver.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wallace, Jacob Witt Samuel — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Wallace, Jacob Witt Samuel
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.