The Potential of Data: Studying Managed Care, Long-Term Care, and Mental Health Service Use

The quality of nationally available state Medicaid data has vastly improved with recent changes in reporting requirements, but no studies have yet used these data for research into access or quality of care. Mathematica researchers are investigating the feasibility of using 1999 Medicaid Statistical Information System (MSIS) data to study managed care enrollment, long-term care service use, and mental health service use. Should the data support studies of these issues, the project will produce state and national estimates of managed care enrollment patterns. It will also produce analyses showing characteristics of long-term care service users in five states, as well as characteristics of mental health service users in one state.

The primary research questions are:

Are the data sufficiently complete, accurate, detailed, and easy to use? Are the findings “reasonable” when compared to findings from other sources?

Are the findings comparable across states with similar populations and Medicaid programs?

This study is being conducted for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation in the Department of Health and Human Services

Back to Top