Medical care utilization as a function of recovery status following chemical addictions treatment.
A sample of 3,572 chemical dependency inpatients aged 25 to 82 years were the subjects of a study to evaluate whether observed reductions in health care costs are associated with successful recovery from alcoholism and other drug dependence, a function of regression to the mean, or ancillary health care during alcoholism/drug abuse treatment. The total number of hospital days were calculated for the year prior to treatment, and one and two years post-treatment. Utilization rates are not significantly different between recovering and relapsed patients prior to treatment; however, the differences between the two groups for the first and second year post-treatment are significant. The recovery patients showed a continued low utilization rate while the relapsed group had considerably higher utilization in both years. Recovery status is an essential factor to consider when determining valid cost-offsets for medical care utilization after alcoholism/drug abuse treatment.
Department of Psychiatry, Sara S. DeHart, the School of Nursing, and Jayne A. Fulkerson, the Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota.
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Hoffmann
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DeHart
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Fulkerson
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000191:economics; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014481:United States