Investigating the impact of eliminating costs for mental health services
Official title: The Effects of Zero Cost-sharing on Mental Health Service Outcomes
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11063188 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how eliminating out-of-pocket costs for mental health services in New Mexico helps people access care and improve their well-being, by talking to both patients and doctors about their experiences with the new law.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $672,921 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH135530-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11063188 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals in New Mexico who have mental health disorders and are affected by the cost-sharing policies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients outside of New Mexico or those who do not have mental health disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research examines how removing cost-sharing for mental health services affects access and outcomes for patients in New Mexico. By analyzing the implementation of a new law that prohibits cost-sharing for mental health care, the study will gather insights from both clinicians and patients through interviews. The goal is to understand how this policy change influences the use of mental health services and the overall quality of care received. The findings could provide valuable information on the barriers to mental health treatment and the effectiveness of policy interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved access to mental health services and better health outcomes for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that reducing financial barriers can significantly increase the utilization of mental health services, indicating potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Golberstein, Ezra — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Golberstein, Ezra
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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.