This study examined the relationship between race, geographic distance, and quality on the choice of community mental health programs in a sample of Medicaid enrollees.  The study found African Americans and Hispanics were less likely to travel for mental health treatment and less likely than Caucasians to choose programs with higher quality of care rankings while higher income enrollees were more likely to travel longer and receive better care, controlling for race.  The authors note that the findings indicate that attention must be paid to improve community mental health treatment quality in lower income minority neighrborhoods to ensure quality. 

Koizumi, N., Rothbard, A.B., Kuno, E. (2009). Distance matters in choice of mental health program: policy implications for reducing racial disparities in public mental health care. Administration and Policy Mental Health Services Research, 4: 4. DOI: 10.1007/s10488-009-0233-z. http://www.springerlink.com/content/b0q70517227h2pn6/

Authors: Naoru Koizumi, Aileen B. Rothbard, Eri Kuno