Mental-behavioral health data: 2001 NHIS

Health Care Financing Review, Fall, 2004 by Terry R. Lied

INTRODUCTION

In 2001, there were more than 100,000total NHIS person section respondents. Medicaid was mentioned as the major source of health insurance by 9,230 persons from this survey (9.2 percent). Of the 9,230 persons for whom Medicaid was identified as the major source of health insurance, 5,137 or 55.7 percent were children under age 18, and 44.3 percent were adults age 18 or over at the time of the survey. Typically, an adult caretaker responded to the survey as a proxy for the child. A total of 11.7 percent of the surveyed children and 48.0 percent of the adults were limited in at least one way.

Figure 1

Medicaid Children Receiving Special Services for Emotional, Behavioral,
or Learning Problems: 2001

* Less than 1 percent (0.7 percent) of children age group 0-4 received
emotional or behavioral services.

* Close to 6 percent (5.7 percent) of children age group 5-17 received
emotional or behavioral services.

* More than 3 percent (3.4 percent) of children age group 0-4, and
nearly 13 percent (12.8 percent) of children age group 5-17 received
special education or early intervention services.

                              0-4    5-17

Emotional or Behavioral       0.7     5.7
Special Education or Early
  Intervention Services       3.4    12.8

Note: Table made from bar graph.

SOURCE: Lied, T.R., Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2004.

Figure 2

Percent of Medicaid Children with mental, Learning, or Emotional
Problems as a Cause of Limitation: 2001

* Attention deficit disorder and/or attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder caused 2.4 percent of children under age 18 to be limited in
some way according to survey respondents.

* A learning disability caused 3.7 percent of children under age 18 to
be limited in some way.

* Emotional/behavioral problems caused 2.4 percent of children under
age 18 to be limited in some way.

* Developmental problems (1.0 percent) and/or mental retardation (0.7
percent) also contributed to limitations in Medicaid children.

                        Cause of Limitation

ADD/ADHD                        2.4
Learning Disability             3.7
Emotional/Behavioral            2.4
Development                     1.0
Mental Retardation              0.7

Note: Table made from bar graph.

NOTES: ADD is attention deficit disorder. ADHD is attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder.

SOURCE: Lied, T.R., Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2004.

Figure 3

Medicaid Adults with Mental-Behavioral Limitations, by Cause: 2001

* Depression, anxiety, and emotional problems caused 9.5 percent of
adults age group 18 or over in Medicaid to be limited in some way.

* Sixteen percent of adults in the age group 45-64 and 11.2 percent of
adults age group 25-44 had depression, anxiety, and emotional problems
mentioned as a cause of limitations. In contrast, only 3 percent of
adults age group 70-74 had these problems mentioned as a cause of
limitations.

* Only 0.1 percent of adults, about 1 in 1,000, had alcohol or drug
problems mentioned as a cause of limitations.

Causes of Limitation    Percent

Other Mental              0.5
Alcohol/Drug              0.1
Depression/Anxiety/       9.5
Emotional
Senility                  1.3
Developmental             1.6
Mental Retardation        2.8

SOURCE: Lied, T.R., Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2004

Figure 4

Medicaid Adults, by Age with Mental-Behavioral Health Limitations: 2001

* The adult age group 45-64 had the greatest percentage with
depression, anxiety, or emotional problems causing limitations (16.0
percent).

* The age group 25-44 ranked second at 11.2 percent followed by adults
age group 65-69, 5.7 percent, adults age group 75 or over, 5.4 percent,
adults age group 18-24, 3.6 percent, and adults age group 70-74, 3.0
percent.

Age Group     Percent

18-24           3.6
25-44          11.2
45-64          16.0
65-69           5.7
70-74           3.0
75 or Over      5.4

Note: Table made from bar graph.

SOURCE: Lied, T.R., Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2004

Reprint Requests: Terry R. Lied, Ph.D., Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop S3-13-15, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850. E-mail: tlied@cms.hhs.gov