Recorded presentation

Jeremy Bray, PhD¹, Keith Davis, MA¹, Linda Graver², Don Schroeder, PhD², Jeffrey Buck, PhD³, Joan D Dilonardo, PhD⁴, and Rita Vandivort, MSW⁵. (1) Behavioral Health Economics Program, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, 919-541-7003, bray@rti.org, (2) The MEDSTAT Group, 5425 Hollister Avenue, Suite 140, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, (3) CMHS, SAMHSA, 5600 Fishers Lane, room 15-87, Rockville, MD 20857, (4) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockwall II Building, Suite 740, 5515 Security Lane, Rockville, MD 20852, (5) CSAT, SAMHSA, 5515 Security Lane, Rockwall II Bldg, Suite 740, Room 7-198, Rockville, MD 20857

Patterns of mental health (MH) and substance abuse (SA) treatment utilization among populations receiving services through multiple public programs are not well known. This study examines the extent to which populations with MH and/or SA conditions utilize treatment services through Medicaid and State MH/SA Agencies. Data are from the SAMHSA Integrated Database (IDB), a multi-year (1996-1998) file for three states (Delaware, Oklahoma, and Washington) combining Medicaid and State MH/SA Agency administrative data into a uniform database. The IDB is used to examine the level of contact populations with MH/SA conditions have with the public treatment system. The analysis focuses specifically on the length of time over which MH/SA populations utilize services, how often they utilize services, how utilization varies by single or co-morbid conditions, and how contact with the treatment system varies between clients receiving services through Medicaid only, through State Agencies only, and through both auspices. Results suggest that although populations with co-occurring conditions and those served by both Medicaid and State MH/SA Agencies have substantial contact with the public treatment system, a majority of the MH/SA populations examined utilize few services over brief periods of time. Moreover, utilization is most limited among individuals with only MH conditions and those served exclusively by Medicaid. While a lack of data on clinical outcomes prevents us from drawing conclusions about treatment effectiveness, our results do indicate that public treatment programs in the states examined here do not provide services that are typically utilized on a frequent or chronic basis.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Assess the extent to which client contact with the public MH/SA system varies across individuals served by Medicaid only, State Agencies only, and by both auspices.
• Assess the extent to client contact with the public MH/SA system varies between individuals with single MH or SA conditions and those with co-occurring conditions.

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.

Recorded presentation