Indicator Gauge Icon Legend
Legend Colors
Red is bad, green is good, blue is not statistically different/neutral.
Compared to Distribution
the value is in the best half of communities.
the value is in the 2nd worst quarter of communities.
the value is in the worst quarter of communities.
Compared to Target
meets target; 
does not meet target.
Compared to a Single Value
lower than the comparison value;
higher than the comparison value;
not statistically different from comparison value.
Trend
non-significant change over time; 
significant change over time; 
no change over time.
Compared to Prior Value
higher than the previous measurement period;
lower than the previous measurement period;
no statistically different change from previous measurement period.
Significantly better than the overall value
Significantly worse than the overall value
No significant difference with the overall value
No data on significance available
Depression: Medicare Population
Measurement Period: 2022
This indicator is archived and is no longer being updated. Click to learn more
This indicator shows the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries who were treated for depression.
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for persons aged 65 years or older, persons under age 65 years with certain disabilities, and persons of any age with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
Why is this important?
Depression is a chronic disease that negatively affects a person's feelings, behaviors and thought processes. Depression has a variety of symptoms, the most common being a feeling of sadness, fatigue, and a marked loss of interest in activities that used to be pleasurable. Many people with depression never seek treatment; however, even those with the most severe depression can improve with treatments including medications, psychotherapies, and other methods.
According to the National Comorbidity Survey of mental health disorders, people over the age of 60 have lower rates of depression than the general population — 10.7 percent in people over the age of 60 compared to 16.9 percent overall. The Center for Medicare Services estimates that depression in older adults occurs in 25 percent of those with other illnesses, including: arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, and stroke.
23.0%
Source:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Measurement period: 2022
Maintained by: Conduent Healthy Communities Institute
Last update: December 2023
Measurement period: 2022
Maintained by: Conduent Healthy Communities Institute
Last update: December 2023
Graph Selections
Data Source
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Maintained By: Conduent Healthy Communities Institute (Methodology)
Filed under: Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders, Health / Older Adults, Health Status, Adults, Older Adults, People with Disabilities