This report presents results from survey by the Center for Studying Health System Change that examines medical and health burdens of chronic conditions, including depression. The report notes that, in 2007, 30 percent of people with chronic conditions lived in families with trouble paying their medical bills, up from 21 percent in 2003.  In addition, the report notes that while rising health care costs affect uninsured individuals more adversely than those with insurance, uninsured individuals with chronic illnesses are increasingly affected. 

Tu, H. T. and Cohen, G. R. (2009). Financial and health burdens of chronic conditions grow. Tracking Report, (24), 1-6.

Download the full report at the Center for Health System Change: http://www.hschange.com/CONTENT/1049/1049.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

This article examines the effect of the recession of health care coverage and state Medicaid programs, looking at the implications for families, providers, and policy makers.

Rowland, Diane, Sc.D. Health Care and Medicaid — Weathering the Recession (2009). New England Journal of Medicine, 360(13), 1273-1276. http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/360/13/1273

This 1995 paper reviews the behavioral health cost estimates from President Clinton’s proposed healthcare reform with attention to the added complexity of accounting for managed care and covering the uninsured.  The authors present lessons learned and their application to future healthcare policy. 

Frank, R. G., & McGuire, T. G. (1995). Estimating costs of mental health and substance abuse coverage. Health Affairs, 14(3), 102-15. http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/abstract/14/3/102 Copyright © 1995 by Project HOPE. 

Authors: Richard G. Frank, Thomas G. McGuire.

This study of children’s access to medical care under public and private coverage concludes that coverage increases access to and use of care more than other studies indicate.  The study compares public and private coverage and underscores the necessity of reducing the number of uninsured children.  

Selden, T. M., & Hudson, J. L. (2006). Access to care and utilization among children: estimating the effects of public and private coverage. Medical Care, 44(5 Suppl), I-19-26. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16625060

Authors: Thomas M. Selden, Julie L. Hudson.