The Effect of Major and Minor Depression on Medicare Home Healthcare Services Use

This study examined the effects of major and minor depression on Medicare home health care utilization, finding that both major and minor depression have little association with the probability and the amount of use of types of Medicare home health services and that there were no major differences between patients with minor and major depression.  The authors suggest that that further research is required to determine if similar findings occur in other home health agencies and under the current Medicare Prospective Payment System.

Friedman, B., R. L. Delavan, et al. (2009). The effect of major and minor depression on Medicare home healthcare services use. J Am Geriatr Soc., 57(4), 669-75. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19392959 

Authors: Bruce Friedman, Rachel L. Delavan, Thomas H. Sheeran, Martha L. Bruce.