Differences in Utilization of Mental Health Treatment Among Children and Adolescents With Medicaid or Private Insurance

Abstract

Objective: Children and adolescents with diagnosed mental disorders may require developmentally tailored interventions. However, little is known about the difference in mental health treatment utilization among children by age group and health insurance coverage.

Methods: Using the 2016 MarketScan database, the study examined treatment utilization patterns by health insurance coverage (private and Medicaid) and developmental age group (preschool-age children, ages 3–5; young children, ages 6–11; and adolescents, ages 12–17).

Results: Psychiatric medication only was the most common form of treatment utilization among all children, regardless of developmental age group or insurance coverage. Specifically, psychiatric medication only was received by 38% of preschool-aged children with Medicaid and 42% of those with private insurance, 43% of young children with Medicaid and 39% of those with private insurance, and 55% of adolescents with Medicaid and 49% of those with private insurance.

Conclusions: Given that evidence-based practices suggest that combined treatment with psychiatric medications and psychotherapy may be the recommended treatment, the study’s findings raise potential concerns about the high use of medication-only treatment.