COST-BENEFIT-ANALYSIS OF 6 ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT INCENTIVES FOR CHILD THERAPISTS

The outcomes and costs of 6 different methods of motivating therapists to meet service delivery goals at a community mental health center fo r children and adolescents were evaluated over a 5-year period. The co sts and cost-savings benefits of each motivational method were compare d with each other and with two baselines. Four incentive interventions generated more cost savings than they required in monetary outlays. M ost cost-beneficial were bonuses paid to therapists for each hour of s ervice they delivered over their monthly goals and bonus plans that re warded therapists for exceeding their goals while also rewarding staff if total department goals were exceeded. The most cost-beneficial sys tem saved $25,542 over 6 months that would have been paid to compensat e for therapy hours not delivered, for an incentive investment of $9,7 26 over the 6 months. This yielded a net benefit of $15,816, or $31,63 2 annually.