Beyond Parity: Primary Care Physicians' Perspectives on Access to Mental Health Care

In 2004-5 two-thirds of primary care physicians (PCPs) reported being unsuccessful at obtaining mental health services for patients at a rate twice as high as for other services.  PCPs cited shortages of mental health care providers, health plan barriers, and lack of coverage or inadequate coverage.  The author concludes that implementing mental health parity will reduce some but not all of the barriers to care. 

Cunningham, P. J. (2009). Beyond parity: primary care physicians' perspectives on access to mental health care. Health Affairs, 28(3), w490-501. DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.3.w490 http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/abstract/28/3/w490 

Author: Peter J. Cunningham