Effect of Improved Primary Care Access on Quality of Depression Care.

The article determines whether a major improvement in access to primary care during 2000 was associated with changes in the quality of care for patients with depression. The authors analyzed health plan administrative date by multilevel regression to compare the quality of care received by patients with depression between 1999 and 2001. The results showed that there was a reduction in the proportion of depressed patients with no follow-up visit in primary care after receiving an antidepressant medication. Continuity of care in primary care improved during six-month antidepressant medication.