Economic Evaluation of a Crisis Residential Program

Todd A Olmstead; Paul J Rathouz; Kathleen A Casey; Tracy A Abzug; Stephen M Strakowski

doi:10.1176/appi.ps.202100037

Economic Evaluation of a Crisis Residential Program

Psychiatr Serv. 2022 Mar 1;73(3):346-348. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.202100037. Epub 2021 Jul 29.

Authors

Todd A Olmstead¹, Paul J Rathouz¹, Kathleen A Casey¹, Tracy A Abzug¹, Stephen M Strakowski¹

Affiliation

¹ Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs (Olmstead) and Dell Medical School (Rathouz, Strakowski), the University of Texas at Austin, Austin; Integral Care, Austin (Casey, Abzug). This study was presented in part at the virtual Crisis Residential Annual Conference, October 14, 2020. Marcela Horvitz-Lennon, M.D., Kenneth Minkoff, M.D., and Esperanza Diaz, M.D., are editors of this column.

PMID: 34320832
DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.202100037

Abstract

This study assessed the cost savings to the local health care system from using a 16-bed crisis residential facility (the Inn) in Austin, Texas, instead of hospitalization, for individuals with acute psychiatric illness (N=1,364) during FY2017-FY2019. Health service utilization data were obtained from the provider and Central Texas's regional health information exchange. Unit cost data were obtained from the provider, Austin State Hospital, the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Results indicated that the Inn saved the health care system up to $2.8 million annually. Future work can use these findings to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the mental health care system.

Keywords: Cost analysis; Crisis intervention; Economics; Mental health care; Residential programs; Serious mental illness.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Community Mental Health Services*
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Health Care Costs
Hospitals, State
Humans
Mental Disorders* / psychology