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Benefit flexibility, cost shifting and mandated mental health coverage

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Abstract

This paper presents a policy analysis of options for making a state’s mandated mental health benefit more flexible while maintaining insurance premiums at a constant level. The analysis illustrates the difficult choices facing legislatures that attempt to balance improved coverage for mental health care with concerns about rising health care costs. A sophisticated simulation model is used to assess the costs of four alternative insurance benefit design options.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Services Research and Development Center, School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, 624 North Broadway, 21205, Baltimore, MD

    Richard G. Frank Ph.D. (Professor) & David S. Salkever Ph.D. (Professor)

  2. Boston University, Boston, USA

    Thomas G. McGuire Ph.D. (Professor of Economics)

Authors
  1. Richard G. Frank Ph.D.
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  2. Thomas G. McGuire Ph.D.
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  3. David S. Salkever Ph.D.
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Additional information

This research was supported by a contract from the commonwealth of Virginia.

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Frank, R.G., McGuire, T.G. & Salkever, D.S. Benefit flexibility, cost shifting and mandated mental health coverage. The Journal of Mental Health Administration 18, 264–271 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02518597

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02518597

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