Comorbid Medical Illnesses and Perceived General Health Among Adult Recipients of Medicaid Mental Health Services

Abstract

The purpose of this retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study was to measure self-reported frequencies of medical problems, overall health, and health-related quality of life among mental health consumers. The sample included 787 adults who had received a mental health service paid for by Medicaid over a one-year period. The self-administered questionnaire included the 12-item Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Short-Form (SF) Physical and Mental Health Summary Scales, and items about physical health problems and health-related quality of life. The majority of respondents (83.3%) reported that their general health was poor or fair. Frequently reported medical problems included arthritis, migraines, and high blood pressure. Knowledge of physical problems in persons with mental illness is essential for advanced practice nurses.

Predictors of Satisfaction Among Adult Recipients of Medicaid Mental Health Services

“…Concepts related to basic human needs (Maslow, 1970) provided the theoretical framework for the instrument and this overall program of research about satisfaction with mental health services Howard & El-Mallakh, 2001;Howard et al, 2003Howard et al, , 2004Howard et al, , 2007. The basic human needs framework proposes that gratification and deprivation can impede or enhance movement toward goals.…”

“…Individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMIs) are recognized as a vulnerable population with higher-than-average rates of chronic medical illnesses and disability, and the health care needs of those with SMIs are complex (Dixon, Postrado, Delahanty, Fischer, & Lehman, 1999;Howard et al, 2007;IOM, 2006;Murray & Lopez, 1996;New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, 2003). The global burden of disease (Murray & Lopez, 1996) identified mental illness as the second leading cause of disability and premature mortality both in the United States and globally.…”

“…Additional strategies that can be supported by advanced practice nurses in a clinical setting include staff education on recovery models and the development of peer support groups. Assessment of mental and physical problems, and their impact on overall functioning, is essential (Howard et al, 2007). Advanced practice nurses in mental health and primary care must coordinate the care of both mental and physical health problems in all treatment settings.…”

Medicaid Expenditures for Fee-for-Service Enrollees with Behavioral Diagnoses: Findings from a 50 State Claims Analysis

“…Medicaid recipients with behavioral diagnoses generally have poor health status (Howard et al 2007), and suffer increased rates of medical conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, viral hepatitis, and pulmonary disease (Dickey et al 2002;Jones et al 2004;Razzano et al 2015). In addition, multi-morbidity is increasing in this population, and studies show that up to 50 % of patients with behavioral diagnoses have two or more chronic medical conditions (Jones et al 2004).…”

Family Caregiving for Adults with Schizophrenia and Diabetes Mellitus

“…People with schizophrenia are vulnerable to poor physical health and a number of chronic medical illnesses, such as diabetes mellitus (DM), metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease (Hennekens, 2007;Howard, El-Mallakh, Rayens, & Clark, 2007;McEvoy et al, 2005). In addition, sedentary lifestyles, obesity, and high smoking rates are common in this population (Allison et al, 2009;Beebe et al, 2010;Everett, Mahler, Biblin, Ganguli, & Mauer, 2008;Kotov, Guey, Bromet, & Schwartz, 2010).…”