Evaluation of an Innovative Medicaid Health Policy Initiative to Expand Substance Abuse Treatment in Washington State

Details

• Personal Author:
  Huber A ; Mancuso D ; Wickizer TM
• Description:
  State health policy making is rarely based on evidence derived from empirical analysis. An exception is an innovative policy established in 2005 in Washington State (Senate Bill [SB] 5763) to provide funding (approximately $30 million) to expand access to substance abuse (SA) treatment for Medicaid beneficiaries. The authors analyzed Medicaid claims data and other administrative data over a 7-year period, July 2001 through June 2008, for three cohorts of welfare clients (n approx. = 44,000) to assess the effect of SA treatment on health care expenditures. Regression analysis showed SA treatment to be associated (p < .001) with per member per month expenditure savings of approximately $160 to $385 depending on the welfare cohort. The aggregate annualized estimated saving ($16.8 million) equaled the cost-saving goal of SB 5763. While it may be tempting for policy makers to cut funding for SA treatment, this may be counterproductive and in the long-run increase Medicaid costs. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Occupational Health Safety Substance-Related Disorders
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Substance Abuse Treatment Cost-offset Cost Effectiveness Costs Health Care Medicaid Medical Treatment Policy State Health Policy Substance Abuse
• ISSN:
  1077-5587
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 5 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  69
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20057213
• Citation:
  Med Care Res Rev 2012 Oct; 69(5):540-559
• Contact Point Address:
  Thomas M. Wickizer, Division of Health Services Management and Policy, College of Public Health, Ohio State University, 204 Cunz Hall, 1841 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH 43210, USA
• Email:
  twickizer@cph.osu.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• Performing Organization:
  University of Washington
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Medical Care Research and Review
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:dfb6c1f182c44f9c1523efa58f77f5ef9686d1e6d134b1703a486cfe0bc52302b0719a7fac60fb6d33689d25c760982e6ee7bbffb13ba18d1bbec6454bac67f8
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/214635/cdc_214635_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 479.95 KB ]