The effect of substance abuse treatment on Medicaid expenditures among general assistance welfare clients in Washington state.
Little is currently known about the effect of substance abuse treatment on Medicaid expenses and other health care costs for welfare clients. This study examined the association between substance abuse treatment and reductions in medical care expenditures (primarily Medicaid expenses) for General Assistance (GA) welfare clients in Washington State. The treatment group included 3,235 GA clients who received treatment during 2000 or 2001. The comparison group included 4,863 GA clients who needed substance abuse treatment but did not receive it. Substance abuse treatment was associated with a reduction (p < .01) in medical expenses of approximately 2,500 US dollars annually. This estimated savings equaled the cost of treatment and represented approximately 35 percent of the annual Medicaid expenses incurred by GA clients with substance abuse problems.
Wickizer
Thomas M
TM
Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-7660, USA. tomwick@u.washington.edu
Krupski
Antoinette
A
Stark
Kenneth D
KD
Mancuso
David
D
Campbell
Kevin
K
D000328:Adult; D017046:Cost Savings; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011632:Public Assistance; D013221:State Health Plans / Q000191:economics*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States; D014861:Washington