This report, based on the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), found that, in 2007, 8.2 percent of adolescents (an estimated 2.0 million youths aged 12 to 17) experienced at least one major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year, and about two fifths (38.9 percent) of those received treatment for depression in the past year. Among adolescents with past year MDE, those with no health insurance coverage were much less likely than those with Medicaid/Children's Health Insurance Program or private health insurance to have received treatment (17.2 vs. 42.9 and 40.6 percent, respectively). 

Download the report from SAMHSA's OAS here: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k9/youthDepression/MDEandTXTforADOL.pdf 

This statistical brief from the Agency from Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) examines the five most costly children's conditions in 2006, including mental disorders.

Health care expenditures for the treatment of children’s ailments have been on the rise in the U.S. Traditionally, medical expenditures have been concentrated for the treatment of certain types of highly prevalent conditions or for which treatment often entails the use of high cost services. This Statistical Brief presents data from MEPSHC regarding medical expenditures associated with the five most costly conditions for children ages 0–17 in 2006. The five most costly conditions for children (mental disorders, asthma, trauma related disorders, acute bronchitis, and infectious diseases) were determined by totaling and ranking the expenses by condition for all medical care provided in 2006. Only differences between estimates that are statistically significant at the 0.05 level are discussed in the text.

Download the brief from AHRQ: http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/st242/stat242.pdf

This study examined health service access among children of different racial/ethnic groups, finding that, among other results, counseling accessing was lower among non-Latino/a Black children than for non-Latino/a white children.  In addition, both private insurance and lack of insurance were negatively associated with counseling access.  The authors note that both privately insured and uninsured children had less access to needed mental health counseling than did those with public insurance, emphasizing the importance of Medicaid and SCHIP in children's mental health. 

Wells, R., M. M. Hillemeier, et al. (2009). Health service access across racial/ethnic groups of children in the child welfare system. Child Abuse Negl, 33(5), 282-92. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19481260 

Authors: Rebecca Wells, Marianne M. Hillemeier, Yu Bai, Rhonda Belue.

This study examined the prevalence and quality of preventative care for adolescents.  The study found 38 percent of adolescents studied had a preventative care visit within the previous 12 months and that low-income and full-year uninsured status were associated with higher risk for not having a visit.  In addition, the study found that while most had screenings for height, weight, and blood pressure, screening rates were much lower for anticipatory guidance and time alone with a provider.  The study also found that low-income and full-year uninsured adolescents were less likely to receive height, weight, and time alone with providers. 

Irwin, C. E., Jr., S. H. Adams, et al. (2009). Preventive care for adolescents: few get visits and fewer get services. Pediatrics. 123(4), e565-72. DOI:10.1542/peds.2008-2601 http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/123/4/e565

The SAMHSA Report examines the need for and receipt of alcohol and illicit drug use treatment among young adults in 2007. 

From the report:

“Substance use disorders are preventable and treatable yet we continue as a Nation to allow the lives of 1 in 5 young people and their families be torn apart by substance abuse,” said SAMHSA Acting Administrator, Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H. 

The report reveals substantial differences among young adults receiving specialized treatment in terms of their medical health insurance coverage. Young adults covered by Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) were more than three times as likely to receive treatment for alcohol or illicit drug use in a specialty facility as were their counterparts with private insurance (13.2 percent versus 4.0 percent).  Young adults without insurance or with other forms of insurance also received treatment at higher levels than those with private insurance (10.6 percent and 8.7 percent respectively).
 
Young Adult’s Need for and Receipt of Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use Treatment: 2007 is based on 2007 data drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), involving responses from 22,187 persons aged 18 to 25.

Download the full report from SAMHSA here: http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k9/157/YoungAdultsDrugTxTHTML.pdf 

This 2003 study examined states' compliance with their Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) mandate that requires states to perform behavioral health screenings on all Medicaid-insured children.  The study found that 23 states had not addressed behavioral health screenings at all and that more states had screening tools for mental health than for substance abuse.  The study also recommends policy options for increasing behavioral health screening rates. 

The study is available from SAMHSA here: http://download.ncadi.samhsa.gov/ken/pdf/ManagedCare/736.pdf 

Citation: Semansky, R. M., Koyanagi, C., & Vandivort-Warren, R. (2003). Behavioral health screening policies in Medicaid programs nationwide. Psychiatric Services, 54(5), 736-739.