Psychiatrist Participation in Private Health Insurance Markets: Paucity in the Land of Plenty.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Access to specialty mental health care may be poor because many psychiatrists do not accept health insurance reimbursement, whereas many patients rely on insurance to help pay for care. The objective of this study was to examine the extent of participation in private insurance by licensed psychiatrists.

Methods

Using 2013 Massachusetts licensing data and the All-Payer Claims Database (APCD), the authors performed a cross-sectional analysis of licensed psychiatrists in Massachusetts. The fraction of psychiatrists who filed insurance claims, number of unique patients with insurance claims per psychiatrist, and physician characteristics associated with insurance participation were evaluated.

Results

In 2013, Massachusetts had 2,348 licensed psychiatrists. Overa

SUBMITTER: Benson NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7708395 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature