TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2021//
TI  - U.S. health care reform and enduring barriers to mental health care among low-income adults with psychological distress
JO  - Psychiatric services
A1  - Mojtabai, Ramin
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - OBJECTIVE: The author aimed to assess changes in mental health service use, unmet need for mental health care, and barriers to obtaining care among low-income adults after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 2014. <br><br>METHODS: Data on 15,968 adults with psychological distress and family income <100% of the federal poverty level were drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2009-2018. Health insurance coverage, contact with mental health services, unmet need for mental health care, and self-reported barriers to care were compared between 2009-2013 and 2014-2018. <br><br>RESULTS: Health insurance coverage increased between 2009-2013 and 2014-2018. However, mental health service use did not change, and unmet need for care modestly decreased. Financial barriers were common and did not change significantly over time. Attitudinal and structural barriers increased. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Further efforts are needed to address the enduring barriers to mental health care among low-income adults.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1075-2730
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.202000194
ID  - ref1
ER  -