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The effects of capitation on service access, adequacy, and appropriateness

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Abstract

The authors describe an evaluation of the influences on service access, adequacy, and appropriateness in four capitated public mental health programs. Access, adequacy, and appropriateness were higher than the fee for service programs, suggesting that the financial incentive in capitation was not a significant limiting factor. Access and adequacy were also limited by new program effects as well as by case manager and client preferences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Medical School Dept. of Psychiatry at Cambridge Hospital, Cambridge, USA

    H. Stephen Leff Ph.D.

  2. Responsive Methodology, Wellesley, MA

    Marcus Lieberman Ph.D.

  3. Human Services Research Inst., 2336 Massachusetts Ave., 02140, Cambridge, MA

    H. Stephen Leff Ph.D., Virginia Mulkern Ph.D. & Barbara Raab B.A.

Authors
  1. H. Stephen Leff Ph.D.
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  2. Virginia Mulkern Ph.D.
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  3. Marcus Lieberman Ph.D.
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  4. Barbara Raab B.A.
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Additional information

This research was supported by the Arizona Division of Behavioral Health Services (ADBHS) and by the National Institute of Mental Health grant 5 R01 MH44878-02-02 to H. Stephen Leff.

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Stephen Leff, H., Mulkern, V., Lieberman, M. et al. The effects of capitation on service access, adequacy, and appropriateness. Adm Policy Ment Health 21, 141–160 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00707483

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