New paper on social risk factors and racial/ethnic disparities in heath care resource utilization

The intersection of social risk and race and ethnicity on mental health care utilization is understudied. This study examined disparities in health care treatment, adjusting for clinical need, among 25,780 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries with a diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder. We assessed contributions to disparities from racial and ethnic differences in the composition and returns of social risk variables. Black and Hispanic beneficiaries had lower rates of mental health outpatient visits than Whites. Assessing composition, Black and Hispanic beneficiaries experienced greater financial, food, and housing insecurity than White beneficiaries, factors associated with greater mental health treatment. Assessing returns, food insecurity was associated with an exacerbation of Hispanic-White disparities. Health care systems need to address the financial, food and housing insecurity of racial and ethnic minority groups with psychiatric disorder. Accounting for racial and ethnic differences in social risk adjustment-based payment reforms has significant implications for provider reimbursement and outcomes.

Cook BL, Rastegar J, Patel N. Social Risk Factors and Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care Resource Utilization Among Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries With Psychiatric Disorders. Med Care Res Rev. 2024 Jan 18:10775587231222583. doi: 10.1177/10775587231222583. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38235576.