RACIAL/ETHNIC DIFFERENCES IN THE TREATMENT OF ADOLESCENT MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS (MDD) ACROSS HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS PARTICIPATING IN THE MEDICAID PROGRAM

•Existence of any racial/ethnic differences in receipt of MDD treatment explained by the specialty of provider diagnosing the adolescent, is examined in this research study.•Findings suggest that there was a modest difference in overall treatment rate and in the utilization of psycho-pharmacotherapy across racial/ethnic groups.•The access to psychiatrists is associated with higher overall treatment rate and higher rate of using psycho-pharmacotherapy in all racial/ethnic groups.•The access to psychiatrists appears to significantly reduce the inequality in using psycho-pharmacotherapy between Hispanics and Whites.