[The regional psychiatry budget: costs and effects of a new multisector financing model for psychiatric care].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a new multi-sector financing model for psychiatric care based on the capitation principle (Regional Psychiatry Budget, RPB).


METHODS
Patients with a diagnosis according to ICD-10 F10, F2, and F3 were interviewed in the model region (MR, N=258) and a control region (CR, N=244) financed according to the fee-for-service principle. Effectiveness of care was assessed before RPB-introduction and after 1.5 years. Use of care was determined semi-annually.


RESULTS
Costs of inpatient psychiatric treatment decreased more strongly in the MR, while hospital based outpatient care and day clinic treatment were intensified in comparison to the CR. Quality of life, severity of illness and illness-specific symptoms in patients improved similarly in MR and CR. The functional level improved more in the MR than in the CR, which was especially evident in schizophrenia patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Inpatient psychiatric care costs can be reduced with the RPB without compromising the quality of care.
Roick
Christiane
C
Universität Leipzig, Professur für Gesundheitsökonomie, Klinik für Psychiatrie, Berlin. christiane.roick@bv-aok.de
Heinrich
Sven
S
Deister
Arno
A
Zeichner
Dirk
D
Birker
Thomas
T
Heider
Dirk
D
Schomerus
Georg
G
Angermeyer
Matthias C
MC
König
Hans-Helmut
HH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002017:Budgets; D002204:Capitation Fee; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000191:economics; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000191:economics*; D018588:Fee-for-Service Plans / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000191:economics*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D012040:Regional Health Planning / Q000191:economics*