An Analysis of Short-Term Alcoholism Treatment Cost Functions

A number of alcohol treatment studies have documented variations in the average cost of treating alcoholics. However, these studies have provided little explanation for these variations. In this study, three major issues in the measurement of alcoholism treatment costs are investigated: 1) choice of treatment location, i.e., inpatient versus outpatient; 2) interaction of treatment locations in the estimation of costs; 3) impact of type of alcohol problem and comorbidities on treatment costs. The study includes an integrated framework that jointly estimates treatment location and treatment costs conditional on treatment location, concentrating on short-term alcoholism treatment and using insurance claims data to specify a 6-month period beginning with each individual's first treatment for alcoholism. The different treatment types subsumed in the categories alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence are also addressed. Results indicate that comorbidities are crucial in determining treatment location. Once treatment location is determined, however, their effects on treatment costs, while measurable, are statistically insignificant. Partial treatment effects, conditional on treatment location, differ substantially from full treatment effects, which are determined jointly with treatment location

Alcohol · Alcohol abuse · Alcohol dependence · Psychiatry · Term (time) · Treatment effect · Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life · Healthcare Policy and Management · Medicine · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

• Socioeconomic evaluation of a correctional programme in Sweden—long-term effects Samhällsekonomisk utvärdering av ett kriminalvårdsprogram i Sverige—långsiktiga effekter

  Kari Jess•European Journal of Social Work•2005

  Incluir item

• The Role of Continuing Care in 9-year Cost Trajectories of Patients With Intakes Into an Outpatient Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program

  Sujaya Parthasarathy, Felicia W Chi et al.•Medical Care•2012

  Incluir item

• Utilization and Cost Impact of Integrating Substance Abuse Treatment and Primary Care

  Sujaya Parthasarathy, Jennifer Mertens et al.•Medical Care•2003

  Incluir item

• Short Term Drug Abuse Treatment Costs and Utilization

  Allen C Goodman, Eleanor Nishiura et al.•Medical Care•1998

  Incluir item

• Using the Datcap and ASI to estimate the costs and benefits of residential addiction treatment in the State of Washington

  Open Access•Michael T French, Helena J Salomé et al.•Social Science & Medicine•2002

  Incluir item

• Limited-dependent and qualitative variables in econometrics

  G S Maddala•Limited-Dependent and Qualitative…•1983

  Incluir item

• Comparison of Utilization of Medical Services by Alcoholics and Non-Alcoholics

  Alan B Forsythe, Barbara Griffiths et al.•American Journal of Public Health•1982

  Incluir item

• Alcoholism, Morbidity and Care-Seeking

  Sandra L Putnam•Medical Care•1982

  Incluir item