| Abstract: | Expenditures for inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services provided through general hospitals and the utilization of those mental health and substance abuse services through general hospitals is examined for all states grouped by level of health maintenance organization (HMO) penetration. Between 1983 and 1990, outpatient use for general hospitals increased substantially for the high-HMO group but decreased in the low-HMO group. During the same time period, per capita expenditures for inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services grew fastest in low-HMO areas. These findings suggest that HMOs restrain the growth of general hospital psychiatric expenditures and encourage the growth of outpatient alternatives to inpatient treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
