CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News
July 24, 2003, Vol. 03-62

SAMHSA Releases Reports on Public and Private Sector Financing of Mental Health Services

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today released three reports that examine public and private sector financing of mental health services. The reports include:

"The Provision of Mental Health Services in Managed Care Organizations", which provides an in-depth update about provision of mental health services under managed care, and an understanding of mental health services provided to privately insured enrollees.

"Medical Necessity in Private Health Plans: Implications for Behavioral Health Care", which addresses how the term "medical necessity" is defined in private health insurance coverage decisions. This report is a summary review of the literature and an extensive review of legal cases that challenge insurer decisions.

"Medicaid Financing of State and County Psychiatric Hospitals" addresses the lack of comprehensive information regarding the nature and scope of Medicaid support for individuals in psychiatric institutions. The study identifies potential sources of Medicaid funds paid on behalf of public psychiatric hospitals, and provides an estimate of the amount of such funds in 2001.

All three reports can be accessed electronically at www.samhsa.gov and are available from SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center at 800-789-2647.

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SAMHSA, a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the lead federal agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment and mental health services in the United States.