About 15 percent of older Americans face clinically significant depression at some point, and rural elders seeking care for depression or anxiety must do so in a healthcare system that is undersupplied with mental health specialists. Most rural counties in the U.S. do not have a psychiatrist and the ability/willingness of primary care physicians to treat depression/anxiety varies. This study used 2014 Medicare Part B claims data to describe which providers (primary care physicians, psychiatrists, etc.) care for rural elderly patients with depression/anxiety and geographic variation in care provision.

Publications

• Comparing the Health Workforce Provider Mix and the Distance Travelled for Mental Health Services by Rural and Urban Medicare Beneficiaries
  Journal Article
  WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
  Date: 08/2020
  This study used 2014 administrative Medicare claims data to describe the mix of health professionals who care for rural and urban patients with mood and/or anxiety disorders. It further describes where these beneficiaries received care and the one-way distance (miles) and time (minutes) they travelled to receive it.