This overview of findings shows that access to outpatient mental health services improved, and consumer spending declined. Health plans relied on managed care to contain costs, and spending did not rise substantially.

Explores reasons for differences in insurance estimates for the two surveys and suggests areas for future research to help measure the number of uninsured more precisely.

This policy brief examines the potential of care coordination, an innovative new approach to comprehensive care for patients with disabilities and special needs under Medicaid managed care, noting that it takes time to develop but can be put in place even after a state has implemented Medicaid...

This chartbook includes more than 25 graphics and tables developed by Mathematica to analyze the characteristics and service use of Medicaid beneficiaries with special health care needs, using State Medicaid Research Files data for four states. Offers recommendations for designing managed care...

This study looks at the first two to three years of parity for mental health and substance abuse benefits in Vermont and concludes that parity was achieved in the state. Increased use of managed care helped make parity affordable but may have reduced access and utilization for some services and...

Many of the findings from this analysis of employer responses to the parity law run counter to popular perceptions. Even though many employer organizations are wary of mental health and substance abuse parity, most Vermont employers were satisfied with the parity law overall. Employers did not...

In recent years, 39;47 has focused increasing attention on the reporting of program performance measures within SCHIP. This memo analyzes trends in state reporting from fiscal years 2003 to 2005, compares SCHIP performance measures to Medicaid and commercial benchmarks, and makes recommendations...

Examines the health care experiences of foster care children enrolled in Medicaid, including their demographic characteristics, diagnosed health conditions, and patterns of utilization and expenditures. Finds that they accounted for a disproportionate share of Medicaid expenditures, had...

Suggests that the program is picking up speed after some initial implementation challenges, although states vary in the extent to which they have expanded coverage for low-income children.