Behavioral health benefits in employer-sponsored health plans, 1997

Health Affairs

Volumn 18, Issue 2, 1999, Pages 67-78

  Buck, Jeffrey A ^a   Teich, Judith L ^a   Umland, Bah ^a   Stein, Mitchell ^a  

^a NONE

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ADDICTION; ARTICLE; ECONOMICS; HEALTH INSURANCE; HUMAN; INFORMATION PROCESSING; INSURANCE; MENTAL DISEASE; MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE; STATISTICS; UNITED STATES;

DATA COLLECTION; HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS, EMPLOYEE; HUMANS; INSURANCE COVERAGE; INSURANCE, PSYCHIATRIC; MENTAL DISORDERS; MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES; SUBSTANCE-RELATED DISORDERS; UNITED STATES;

EID: 2442737428     PISSN: 02782715     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.18.2.67     Document Type: Article

References (6)

1. G.A. Jensen et al., "Mental Health Insurance in the 1990s: Are Employers Offering Less to More?" Health Affairs (May/June 1998): 201-208.
2. J.A. Buck and B. Umland, "Covering Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services," Health Affairs (July/August 1997): 120-126.
3. Health Care Plan Design and Cost Trends - 1988 through 1997 (Washington: Hay Group, May 1998).
4. Carve-out plans refer only to situations in which the employer directly contracted with a managed behavioral health care company and asked one or more of its medical plans to exclude coverage for MH/SA care. In 1997 carveout plans were used by only 2 percent of all employers, while 24 percent of employers with 20,000 or more employees have carved MH/SA benefits out of one or more plans. Carve-out plans are distinct from "carve-ins," where the health plan (such as an HMO) has subcontracted with a managed behavioral health care company to deliver the MH/SA benefits. Carve-in arrangements are included within the other plan types examined in this paper.
5. In addition to detoxification, rehabilitation is another inpatient substance abuse benefit that some plans cover. This benefit will be addressed in future surveys.
6. M.L. Rosenbach and C. Young, Evaluation Design for the Vermont Parity Act, Final Report (Rockville, Md.: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, December 1998).