Dataset Information

Effect of usual source of care on depression among Medicare beneficiaries: an application of a simultaneous-equations model.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate whether having a usual source of care (USOC) resulted in lower depression prevalence among the elderly.

Data sources

The 2001-2003 Medicare Current Beneficiaries Survey and 2002 Area Resource File.

Study design

Twenty thousand four hundred and fifty-five community-dwelling person-years were identified for respondents aged 65+, covered by both Medicare Parts A and B in Medicare fee-for-service for a full year. USOC was defined by the question "Is there a particular medical person or a clinic you usually go to when you are sick or for advice about your health?" Ambulatory care use (ACU) was defined by having at least one physician office visit and/or hospital outpatient visit using Medicare claims. Depression was identified by a two-item screen (sadness and/or anhedonia). All measures were for the past 12 months. A simultaneous-equations (trivariate probit) model was estimated, adjusted for sampling weights and study design effects.

Principal findings

Based on the simultaneous-equations model, USOC is associated with 3.8 percent lower probability of having depression symptoms (p=.03). Also, it had a positive effect on having any ACU (p<.001). Having any ACU had no statistically significant effect on depression (p=.96).

Conclusions

USOC was associated with lower depression prevalence and higher realized access (ACU) among community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries.

SUBMITTER: Li C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3165178 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Effect of usual source of care on depression among Medicare beneficiaries: an application of a simultaneous-equations model.

Li Chunyu C Dick Andrew W AW Fiscella Kevin K Conwell Yeates Y Friedman Bruce B

Health services research 20110209 4

<h4>Objective</h4>To investigate whether having a usual source of care (USOC) resulted in lower depression prevalence among the elderly.<h4>Data sources</h4>The 2001-2003 Medicare Current Beneficiaries Survey and 2002 Area Resource File.<h4>Study design</h4>Twenty thousand four hundred and fifty-five community-dwelling person-years were identified for respondents aged 65+, covered by both Medicare Parts A and B in Medicare fee-for-service for a full year. USOC was defined by the question "Is the ...[more]

PMID: 21306366

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Dataset Information

Effect of usual source of care on depression among Medicare beneficiaries: an application of a simultaneous-equations model.

Objective

Data sources

Study design

Principal findings

Conclusions

Publications

Effect of usual source of care on depression among Medicare beneficiaries: an application of a simultaneous-equations model.

Similar Datasets

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