Improving access to mental health treatment for Medicaid recipients based on income and neighborhood factors
Official title: Outpatient Mental Health Treatment, Median Household Income, and Residential Segregation: Improving Measurement of Spatial Accessibility for Medicaid Recipients
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11064956 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how where you live and your neighborhood's income level can make it harder for people on Medicaid to get mental health care, especially for those from low-income and racial backgrounds, and it aims to find ways to improve access to these important services.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $46,408 |
| NIH project number | 1R36MH139195-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11064956 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Medicaid recipients, especially those living in low-income neighborhoods or areas with high residential segregation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not Medicaid recipients or those living in affluent neighborhoods may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the challenges Medicaid recipients face in accessing outpatient mental health services, particularly focusing on how neighborhood income levels and residential segregation affect their access. By analyzing the spatial relationship between the locations of mental health providers and the patients who need them, the study aims to identify barriers that disproportionately impact low-income and racialized individuals. The methodology includes spatial analyses to assess how these geographic factors influence the availability of mental health services for Medicaid recipients. The goal is to uncover modifiable factors that could enhance access to care for these vulnerable populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved access to mental health services for Medicaid recipients, particularly those from low-income and racially marginalized communities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that addressing geographic and socioeconomic barriers can improve access to healthcare services, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaur, Navdep — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Kaur, Navdep
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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.