Medicare beneficiaries are more likely than the general adult population to experience mental illness.1 However, insufficient numbers of psychiatric clinicians and limited insurance participation are associated with restricted availability of care.2,3 Increases in the number of psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) could help mitigate poor access to care, particularly for psychiatric prescribing. The primary care nurse practitioner workforce has increased in underserved rural areas4; however, data are limited on PMHNPs. We examined the number of psychiatrists and PMHNPs overall and for Medicare beneficiaries from 2013 to 2019.
Citation
Oh S, McDowell A, Benson NM, Cook BL, Fung V. Trends in Participation in Medicare Among Psychiatrists and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, 2013-2019. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(7):e2224368. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.24368
