Health Topics

• Data Development
• Health Care Reform
• Health Information Technology
• Medicaid and CHIP
• Medicare
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse
• Payment Policies and Costs
• Public and Population Health
• Quality and Health System Functioning
• State Health Policy

Survey of Revenues and Expenses of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Providers

In 2008, almost 10 million U.S. adults had serious mental illnesses, and over 22 million persons age 12 or older had substance abuse problems. Given the prevalence of these conditions and their disabling effects, it is vital to know how much the industry is investing in their treatment.

In this project, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) examined the costs of providing mental health and substance abuse treatment in the United States. Mathematica collected expenditure data from a nationally representative sample of public and private treatment facilities. The data were used, in part, to update estimates and methods for future editions of the SAMHSA “National Expenditures for Mental Health Services and Substance Abuse Treatment” report. Widely regarded as the leading source of information about how much the nation is investing in the treatment of mental health and substance abuse conditions, this report addresses the following questions:

• What do the latest data tell us about how much was spent in the United States to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment?
• Which health care providers supply these services, and how much is spent by provider type?
• How much is spent by type of setting?
• Who pays for services and how much do they spend?
• How has spending changed over time?
• How do expenditures compare with those for all U.S. health care?

The survey provided detailed, real-world data on facility expenses; all sources of revenue; total aggregate and subaggregate expenses, including total annual payroll, costs for fringe benefits, and all other operating expenses; and case mix. The data greatly strengthened the reliability and validity of estimates and projections in the SAMHSA expenditures report.