So-Young Min, PhD¹, Mark S. Salzer, PhD², Aileen Rothbard, ScD², and Jeanie Whitecraft³. (1) Department of Social Welfare, Kyungsung University, 110-1, Daeyeon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan, 608-736, South Korea, (2) Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research, University of Pennsylvania, 3535 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 215.349.8483, salzer@mail.med.upenn.edu, (3) Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, 520 North Delaware Ave., 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19123

Prior studies have shown that peer support programs have positive benefits on quality of life, self-esteem, and other psychosocial outcomes. However, few rigorous studies have examined the impact of these programs on service utilization and costs. This study utilized longitudinal Medicaid data and compared hospitalization patterns of people in a peer support program with a comparison group of people who did not participate in the program. Hospitalization records for persons entering a Philadelphia peer support program for people with co-occurring serious mental illness and substance abuse disorders (the Friends Connection) between 1993 and 1998 (N=106) were compared to a group with similar characteristics (e.g., ICM services, co-occurring disorder) (N=378), but did not participate in the Friends Connection program. We found that the Friends Connection group had statistically fewer hospital days in a one-year period after entering the program relative to the comparison group. We estimated that The Friends Connection led to a reduction of 1549 hospital days in that one-year period. We found no differences between the groups in the two to three year periods after entering the program. The people who received the Friends Connection also had a significantly lower probability (10%) of being hospitalized at any point in a three-year period after entering the program.

Learning Objectives: Persons attending this session will be able to

• Describe peer support programs and the Friends Connection in particular
• Discuss the long-term impact of the Friends Connection program on future hospitalizations for persons with co-occurring serious mental illness and substance abuse disorders
• Review cost-savings estimates associated with this reduction in service use

Keywords: Mental Health, Substance Abuse

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.