Abstract
The objective of this research was to examine whether users of mental health or substance abuse (MH/SA) services incurred greater costs for non-MH/SA services than nonusers of MH/SA services. Two years of health care utilization data were collected on 443 at-risk drinkers from six southern U.S. states. We then examined predictors of using MH/SA services and costs associated with non-MH/SA services. The results showed that use of MH/SA services was associated with female gender, military service, health insurance, and not being employed full-time. Unadjusted analyses indicated that non-MH/SA service costs were significantly higher among MH/SA service users than nonusers. However, this association did not endure in multivariable models. In fact, emergency department costs were significantly lower among MH/SA users. It is commonly assumed that users of MH/SA services are also heavy users of other medical services. Through multivariable models, this study found that overall costs of non-MH/SA services were similar between users and nonusers of MH/SA services.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 431-448 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | Medical Care Research and Review |
| Volume | 64 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 2007 |
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Keywords
- Alcoholism and addictive behavior
- Economic analysis
- Health services utilization and cost
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Nursing(all)
- Health(social science)
- Health Professions(all)
- Health Policy
Cite this
Utilization and cost of mental health, substance abuse, and medical services among at-risk drinkers. / Nietert, Paul J.; French, Michael; Kirchner, Joann E.; Booth, Brenda M.
In: Medical Care Research and Review, Vol. 64, No. 4, 08.2007, p. 431-448.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Utilization and cost of mental health, substance abuse, and medical services among at-risk drinkers
AU - Nietert, Paul J.
AU - French, Michael
AU - Kirchner, Joann E.
AU - Booth, Brenda M.
PY - 2007/8
Y1 - 2007/8
N2 - The objective of this research was to examine whether users of mental health or substance abuse (MH/SA) services incurred greater costs for non-MH/SA services than nonusers of MH/SA services. Two years of health care utilization data were collected on 443 at-risk drinkers from six southern U.S. states. We then examined predictors of using MH/SA services and costs associated with non-MH/SA services. The results showed that use of MH/SA services was associated with female gender, military service, health insurance, and not being employed full-time. Unadjusted analyses indicated that non-MH/SA service costs were significantly higher among MH/SA service users than nonusers. However, this association did not endure in multivariable models. In fact, emergency department costs were significantly lower among MH/SA users. It is commonly assumed that users of MH/SA services are also heavy users of other medical services. Through multivariable models, this study found that overall costs of non-MH/SA services were similar between users and nonusers of MH/SA services.
AB - The objective of this research was to examine whether users of mental health or substance abuse (MH/SA) services incurred greater costs for non-MH/SA services than nonusers of MH/SA services. Two years of health care utilization data were collected on 443 at-risk drinkers from six southern U.S. states. We then examined predictors of using MH/SA services and costs associated with non-MH/SA services. The results showed that use of MH/SA services was associated with female gender, military service, health insurance, and not being employed full-time. Unadjusted analyses indicated that non-MH/SA service costs were significantly higher among MH/SA service users than nonusers. However, this association did not endure in multivariable models. In fact, emergency department costs were significantly lower among MH/SA users. It is commonly assumed that users of MH/SA services are also heavy users of other medical services. Through multivariable models, this study found that overall costs of non-MH/SA services were similar between users and nonusers of MH/SA services.
KW - Alcoholism and addictive behavior
KW - Economic analysis
KW - Health services utilization and cost
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34447543032&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1077558707301962
DO - 10.1177/1077558707301962
M3 - Article
C2 - 17684111
AN - SCOPUS:34447543032
VL - 64
SP - 431
EP - 448
JO - Medical Care Research and Review
JF - Medical Care Research and Review
SN - 1077-5587
IS - 4
ER -