title: Benefit flexibility, cost shifting and mandated mental health coverage.
abstract: This paper presents a policy analysis of options for making a state's mandated mental health benefit more flexible while maintaining insurance premiums at a constant level. The analysis illustrates the difficult choices facing legislatures that attempt to balance improved coverage for mental health care with concerns about rising health care costs. A sophisticated simulation model is used to assess the costs of four alternative insurance benefit design options.
authors: School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205.
authors: R G
authors: RG
authors: Frank
authors: T G
authors: TG
authors: McGuire
authors: D S
authors: DS
authors: Salkever
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics; D003363:Cost Control / Q000379:methods; D017047:Cost Sharing; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007342:Insurance Benefits / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D007358:Insurance, Psychiatric / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D013219:State Government; D014768:Virginia