Abstract
Administrative data from Cigna for 149 somatoform cases were analyzed to determine the cost, number of sessions, dropout rates, and recidivism rates. Comparisons on these outcomes were made between medical doctors, psychologists, master’s nurses, master’s social workers, marriage and family therapists, and professional counselors. Recidivism rates and number of sessions are higher than for other mental health problems. There were no significant difference in total cost by profession, but did indicate a significant difference in cost per session for MDs. Analyses indicate that masters and doctoral level providers produced the same drop out and recidivism rates.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to express appreciation to our collaborators who made this project possible: Jodi Aronson Prohofsky, Ph.D., LMFT Former Senior Vice President of Operations, Cigna, now Head of Operations at Bloom Health, Anthony G. Massey, MD, MBA, Senior Medical Director, Cigna, and David Bergman, J. D., Former Director of Legal and Government Affairs at AAMFT, now VP of Legal & External Affairs & Chief Legal Officer, National Board for Certified Counselors.
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Crane, D.R., Morton, L.B., Fawcett, D. et al. Somatoform Disorder: Treatment Utilization and Cost by Mental Health Professions. Contemp Fam Ther 34, 322–333 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-012-9182-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-012-9182-x