Abstract
Since the Welfare Reform Act of 1996, citizenship status has become an important consideration in mental health service utilization
due to the restrictions on federal healthcare benefits for noncitizens living in the U.S. Using a nationally representative
sample of Latinos and Asians, we examined the extent to which U.S. citizenship status was related to rates of mental health
service utilization. We also identified several predictors of mental health service utilization among noncitizens. Noncitizens
were about 40% less likely than U.S.-born citizens to use any mental health services. Findings are discussed in the context
of healthcare policy and recent healthcare reform.
due to the restrictions on federal healthcare benefits for noncitizens living in the U.S. Using a nationally representative
sample of Latinos and Asians, we examined the extent to which U.S. citizenship status was related to rates of mental health
service utilization. We also identified several predictors of mental health service utilization among noncitizens. Noncitizens
were about 40% less likely than U.S.-born citizens to use any mental health services. Findings are discussed in the context
of healthcare policy and recent healthcare reform.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-13
- DOI 10.1007/s10488-011-0366-8
- Authors
- Sungkyu Lee, College of Social Work, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, 1618 Cumberland Ave, Knoxville, TN 37996-3333, USA
- Jason Matejkowski, Associate Research Scientist Section on Law & Ethics Treatment Research Institute, 600 Public Ledger Building 150 S, Independence Mall West Philadelphia, PA 19104-6179, USA
- Journal Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research
- Online ISSN 1573-3289
- Print ISSN 0894-587X