Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #110788

T. Hope McGonigle, PhD, Ohio Medicaid, Bureau of Health Plan Policy, Ohio Health Plans, 30 E. Broad St., 27th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215, 614-466-6420, hopemcg@yahoo.com and James Gearheart, Ohio Health Plans, Ohio Medicaid, Bureau of Health Plan Policy, 30 E. Broad St., 27th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215.

Adult psychological services provided by an independently-practicing psychologist were legislatively discontinued in the state of Ohio in 2004. While there are alternative sources of care for these consumers, there was no certainty that this transition would take place. Consumers who were using independently-practicing psychologists before the program ended were assessed a year later to compile a profile of their mental health-seeking behavior. Among the source of care transitions are: Ohio's community mental health system, hospitals and psychologists in psychiatrist or other physician's offices. While it was possible to track the movements of many of these Medicaid consumers, numerous others “dropped out” of visibility. It is theorized that these patients are receiving pro bono care from their independently-practicing psychologists or are subsisting without counseling services.

Learning Objectives:

• -Assess the change in health-seeking behavior among Ohio's Medicaid population requiring psychological services
• -Identify which patients are most likely to not find a new psychological home
• -Describe the process of this transition

Keywords: Medicaid, Mental Health System

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.