Change in mental health service delivery among blacks, whites, and Hispanics in the Department of Veterans Affairs

The authors analyzed changes in access to and use of mental health services by minorities in the Veterans Health Administration during a period of major system change (1995-2001). Blacks had poorer outpatient access than Whites during this period of change, but were not further disadvantaged over time, and their access to care improved relative to Whites on some measures. For Hispanics, there was a trend toward greater inequality in the delivery of outpatient mental health care. These results suggest a need to monitor and address the differential impact on minorities of changes in mental health service delivery.