Alcoholism treatment and medical care costs from Project MATCH.
OBJECTIVE
This paper examines the costs of medical care prior to and following initiation of alcoholism treatment as part of a study of patient matching to treatment modality.


METHODS
Longitudinal study with pre- and post-treatment initiation.


METHODS
The total medical care costs for inpatient and outpatient treatment for patients participating over a span of 3 years post-treatment.


METHODS
Three treatment sites at two of the nine Project MATCH locations (Milwaukee, WI and Providence, RI).


METHODS
Two hundred and seventy-nine patients.


METHODS
Patients were randomly assigned to one of three treatment modalities: a 12-session cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a four-session motivational enhancement therapy (MET) or a 12-session Twelve-Step facilitation (TSF) treatment over 12 weeks.


RESULTS
Total medical care costs declined from pre- to post-treatment overall and for each modality. Matching effects independent of clinical prognosis showed that MET has potential for medical-care cost-savings. However, patients with poor prognostic characteristics (alcohol dependence, psychiatric severity and/or social network support for drinking) have better cost-savings potential with CBT and/or TSF.


CONCLUSIONS
Matching variables have significant importance in increasing the potential for medical-care cost-reductions following alcoholism treatment.
Holder
H D
HD
Prevention Research Center, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA.
Cisler
R A
RA
Longabaugh
R
R
Stout
R L
RL
Treno
A J
AJ
Zweben
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D011379:Prognosis