272702 Trends in the use of and spending on prescription drugs and other services among those with mental disorders

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 4:50 PM - 5:10 PM

Lisa Clemans-Cope, PhD , Health Policy Center, The Urban Institute, Washington, DC
Teresa Coughlin, MA , Health Policy Center, The Urban Institute, Washington, DC
Timothy Waidmann, PhD , Health Policy Center, The Urban Institute, Washington
This paper explores variations in Medicaid spending and utilization of services by program enrollees treated for mental health conditions. Again using the CAMOD Medicaid population, MAX data were examined to compare and contrast changes and examine the mix of care in the use of inpatient, ambulatory care, prescription drugs and long-term care over time at the state and sub-state level for beneficiaries treated for a mental health condition. The level of variation in spending across states by the interquartile ranges of spending and the relationship between spending and selected outcomes including mortality are described. Adjusted estimates are also used to examine the use of, and possible substitution among, drugs and various services over time and across states. The growth in spending on psychotropic prescriptions has had a major impact on state Medicaid programs, although the net impact on total spending on the study population with mental health conditions is less clear.

Learning Areas:
Biostatistics, economics

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate sub-state geographic variations in Medicaid spending and utilization of services by program enrollees treated for mental health conditions.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Teresa A. Coughlin, a senior fellow, has been at the Urban Institute since 1987. She researches and analyzes a range of health issues with particular emphasis on Medicaid, managed care, the health care safety net, and state health policy.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3437.0: Health Services Research Invited Session: Geographic Variations in Medicaid Spending