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Private regulation in mental health

The JCAH and psychologists in hospitals

  • Articles
  • The Impact of Insurance
  • Published:
Law and Human Behavior

Abstract

General hospitals are increasingly important sources of care for chronic and acute mental patients. Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAH) standards for staffing in general hospitals require the same degree of physician supervision and control for all services, including mental health. This paper considers the economic impact of JCAH standards on the practice of psychologists in hospitals. The “voluntariness” of the standards is assessed and the evidence that these standards foster economic protectionism is considered. We conclude that in light of the demonstrated capability of nonphysician professionals, methods of quality control appropriate for physician health care in general hospitals should be reconsidered as these instutions diversify into mental health services.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics, Boston University, 270 Bay State Road, 02215, Boston, Massachusetts

    Thomas G. McGuire

  2. Economist, Attorney General's Office, State of Ohio, State Office Tower, 30 East Broad Street, 43215, Columbus, Ohio

    Sylvia F. Moore

Authors
  1. Thomas G. McGuire
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  2. Sylvia F. Moore
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Additional information

The views in this paper are the authors' own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Office of the Ohio Attorney General. The Authors are grateful to Richard Frank, Michael Manove, and Ingo Vogelsang for their helpful comments on an earlier draft.

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McGuire, T.G., Moore, S.F. Private regulation in mental health. Law Hum Behav 7, 235–249 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01044526

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01044526

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