Financing of substance abuse treatment services.
The financing of treatment for substance abuse problems has differed from the rest of financing of health care in part because of the dominant role of the public sector as the payer of services. Nonetheless, the rise of managed care has affected substance abuse treatment services as well as the rest of the health care system. Alternative payment mechanisms are one important component of some managed care approaches. Behavioral health carve-outs are another managed care development that has affected substance abuse services. In this chapter, salient features of financing for substance abuse treatment are reviewed within the conceptual framework of payers (purchasers and intermediaries), providers, and consumers. Existing literature on substance abuse treatment financing is summarized, while recognizing that much remains to be researched.
Horgan
C M
CM
Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Heller Graduate School, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9110, USA.
Merrick
E L
EL
D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000191:economics*; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000639:trends; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000639:trends*; D005544:Forecasting; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000191:economics* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014481:United States