Abstract
This study provides insight to policy makers and stakeholders on how three types of benefits limits on Medicaid-covered mental health services might affect access for consumers diagnosed with severe mental illness. The study used a retrospective cohort design with data for Medicaid-covered, community-based mental health services provided in Ohio during fiscal year 2010. Log-binomial regression was used for the analysis. Results indicate that limits compared have significant, varying consequences based on Medicaid coverage and diagnoses. When constraining Medicaid costs, policy makers should consider how limits will disrupt care and include clinicians in discussions prior to implementation.
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Acknowledgments
This project was funded by Ohio Department of Medicaid, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Medicaid Technical Assistance and Policy Program, and the Ohio State University College of Public Health. Additional funding for Dr. Olesiuk was provided by Grant No. 5T32MH019117-25 from the National Institutes of Mental Health. The contents of this article are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Ohio Department of Medicaid. The authors wish to thank Dr. Sandra Tanenbaum, Dr. Thomas Wickizer, Dr. Kraig Knudsen, Timothy Sahr, Liping Xin, and Terry Jones for their assistance with this project.
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Olesiuk, W.J., Sweeney, H.A., Seiber, E.E. et al. A Comparison of Benefit Limits in Mental Health. Adm Policy Ment Health 43, 524–534 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-015-0656-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-015-0656-7