Use of mental health and substance abuse services among high-cost Medicaid enrollees.
Users of mental health and substance abuse (MH/SA) services were examined among nonelderly high-cost Medicaid enrollees in 10 states in 1995. Although MH/SA service users constitute 11% of all Medicaid enrollees, they make up nearly a third of high-cost enrollees. Adults account for two thirds of this high-cost MH/SA group, and most frequently qualify for Medicaid through disability-related eligibility categories. In contrast, a majority of children in the high-cost MH/SA group are eligible for Medicaid through child-related categories, rather than disability. In diagnostic makeup, the high-cost group was somewhat more likely to have serious disorders than the general Medicaid MH/SA user population.
Buck
Jeffrey A
JA
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/Center for Mental Health Services, 5600 Fishers Lane, 15-87, Rockville, MD 20857, USA. jbuck@samhsa.gov
Teich
Judith L
JL
Miller
Kay
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology