Nathaniel Anderson, MPH

Phone: 207.228.8187
E-mail: nanderso@usm.maine.edu

University of Southern Maine
PO Box 9300
Portland, ME

Current Projects (1)

Patterns of Care for Rural and Urban Children with Mental Health Problems
Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Children, Health disparities, Mental health
This study will assess whether use of office-based care and psychotropic medicine by children differs between rural and urban areas, as well as the role of insurance coverage and availability of mental health providers on use of these services.

Completed Projects (1)

Consequences of Rural Uninsurance, Lead researcher
Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic: Health insurance and the uninsured
This study will assess whether uninsured rural residents have different levels of access to care than their urban counterparts, and the factors associated with any differences (including sub-analyses for individuals with identified chronic conditions). In doing so, it will provide policymakers with critical information for improving rural health systems.

Publications (5)

Health Insurance Profile Indicates Need to Expand Coverage in Rural Areas (Policy Brief)
Author(s): Jennifer Lenardson, Erika Ziller, Andrew Coburn, Nathaniel Anderson
Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Health insurance and the uninsured, Health policy
Date: 07 / 2009
Rural residents-particularly in the most remote rural communities-are in greater need of health reform, as demonstrated by an uninsured rate higher than that of urban residents. The rural-urban disparity in coverage is driven by higher uninsured rates among rural adults, a group that should be part of any strategic effort to improve coverage. This brief provides information on the health insurance status of rural Americans, summarized from a more detailed chartbook. Analyses are based on the 2004-05 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.
Impact of Employment Transitions on Health Insurance Coverage of Rural Residents
Author(s): Nathaniel J. Anderson, Erika C. Ziller, Melanie M. Race, Andrew F. Coburn
Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center
Topic: Health insurance and the uninsured
Report Number: #46
Date: 10 / 2010
Explores the impact of changes in employment status on insurance coverage for rural and urban workers.
Many Urban and Rural Workers Lose Health Insurance During Job Transitions (Policy Brief)
Author(s): Nathaniel J. Anderson, Erika C. Ziller, Melanie M. Race, Andrew F. Coburn
Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center
Topic: Health insurance and the uninsured
Date: 10 / 2010
Explores the impact of changes in employment status on insurance coverage for rural and urban workers, and the factors behind any differences.
Profile of Rural Health Insurance Coverage: A Chartbook
Author(s): Jennifer D. Lenardson, Erika C. Ziller, Andrew F. Coburn, Nathaniel J. Anderson
Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center
Topics: Health insurance and the uninsured, Health policy
Date: 06 / 2009
As the nation considers whether and how to reform the healthcare system, it is important to consider differences in health insurance coverage for those living in rural and urban areas. Analyses of persons under age 65 from the 2004-05 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey reveal a greater proportion of rural residents than urban residents who are uninsured or covered through public sources, especially among those living in remote areas. Rural adults are at high risk of being uninsured compared to rural children. Uninsured rates are highest among adults over age 50 in the most remote rural places. Compared to urban adults, rural adults are less likely to be in employment situations where private coverage is offered.
Rural Adults Face Parity Problems and Other Barriers to Appropriate Mental Health Care
Author(s): Erika Ziller, Nathaniel Anderson, Andrew Coburn
Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center
Topic: Mental health
Date: 11 / 2008
Findings suggest that a multi-level approach is essential for meeting the mental health service needs of rural residents.
Key facts include: 8% of rural adults say that they are in "fair" or "poor" mental health versus 6% of urban adults;
Among those using mental health services, rural residents are more likely than urban residents to use medication but not therapy. Practice guidelines for quality mental health treatment recommend that medications be given in combination with therapy;
Both rural and urban adults have greater cost sharing for their mental health care than for their total health care use. The percentages do not differ by residence; however, rural residents may be at greater risk of forgoing mental health care due to costs.
This Research & Policy Brief is based on a longer study by the authors. For more information about this study, please contact Erika Ziller at eziller@usm.maine.edu

Topics Centers Researchers Other Resources Search		Nathaniel Anderson, MPH Maine Rural Health Research Center Phone: 207.228.8187 E-mail: nanderso@usm.maine.edu University of Southern Maine PO Box 9300 Portland, ME Current Projects (1) Patterns of Care for Rural and Urban Children with Mental Health Problems Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topics: Children, Health disparities, Mental health This study will assess whether use of office-based care and psychotropic medicine by children differs between rural and urban areas, as well as the role of insurance coverage and availability of mental health providers on use of these services. Completed Projects (1) Consequences of Rural Uninsurance, Lead researcher Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) Topic: Health insurance and the uninsured This study will assess whether uninsured rural residents have different levels of access to care than their urban counterparts, and the factors associated with any differences (including sub-analyses for individuals with identified chronic conditions). In doing so, it will provide policymakers with critical information for improving rural health systems. Publications (5) Health Insurance Profile Indicates Need to Expand Coverage in Rural Areas (Policy Brief) Author(s): Jennifer Lenardson, Erika Ziller, Andrew Coburn, Nathaniel Anderson Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center Topics: Health insurance and the uninsured, Health policy Date: 07 / 2009 Rural residents-particularly in the most remote rural communities-are in greater need of health reform, as demonstrated by an uninsured rate higher than that of urban residents. The rural-urban disparity in coverage is driven by higher uninsured rates among rural adults, a group that should be part of any strategic effort to improve coverage. This brief provides information on the health insurance status of rural Americans, summarized from a more detailed chartbook. Analyses are based on the 2004-05 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Impact of Employment Transitions on Health Insurance Coverage of Rural Residents Author(s): Nathaniel J. Anderson, Erika C. Ziller, Melanie M. Race, Andrew F. Coburn Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center Topic: Health insurance and the uninsured Report Number: #46 Date: 10 / 2010 Explores the impact of changes in employment status on insurance coverage for rural and urban workers. Many Urban and Rural Workers Lose Health Insurance During Job Transitions (Policy Brief) Author(s): Nathaniel J. Anderson, Erika C. Ziller, Melanie M. Race, Andrew F. Coburn Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center Topic: Health insurance and the uninsured Date: 10 / 2010 Explores the impact of changes in employment status on insurance coverage for rural and urban workers, and the factors behind any differences. Profile of Rural Health Insurance Coverage: A Chartbook Author(s): Jennifer D. Lenardson, Erika C. Ziller, Andrew F. Coburn, Nathaniel J. Anderson Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center Topics: Health insurance and the uninsured, Health policy Date: 06 / 2009 As the nation considers whether and how to reform the healthcare system, it is important to consider differences in health insurance coverage for those living in rural and urban areas. Analyses of persons under age 65 from the 2004-05 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey reveal a greater proportion of rural residents than urban residents who are uninsured or covered through public sources, especially among those living in remote areas. Rural adults are at high risk of being uninsured compared to rural children. Uninsured rates are highest among adults over age 50 in the most remote rural places. Compared to urban adults, rural adults are less likely to be in employment situations where private coverage is offered. Rural Adults Face Parity Problems and Other Barriers to Appropriate Mental Health Care Author(s): Erika Ziller, Nathaniel Anderson, Andrew Coburn Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center Topic: Mental health Date: 11 / 2008 Findings suggest that a multi-level approach is essential for meeting the mental health service needs of rural residents. Key facts include: 8% of rural adults say that they are in "fair" or "poor" mental health versus 6% of urban adults; Among those using mental health services, rural residents are more likely than urban residents to use medication but not therapy. Practice guidelines for quality mental health treatment recommend that medications be given in combination with therapy; Both rural and urban adults have greater cost sharing for their mental health care than for their total health care use. The percentages do not differ by residence; however, rural residents may be at greater risk of forgoing mental health care due to costs. This Research & Policy Brief is based on a longer study by the authors. For more information about this study, please contact Erika Ziller at eziller@usm.maine.edu