Utilization of services for mentally ill chemically abusing patients discharged from residential treatment

Little is known about outcomes of treatment for individuals with mental ill ness and chemical dependencies. This article compares services utilization preadmission and postdischarge in 534 patients discharged from a residentia l treatment program in Washington State. A number of services, including ch emical dependency detoxification, mental health crisis, inpatient psychiatr ic, medical emergency, and general medical inpatient hospitalization, were used less frequently in the period after discharge. The total reimbursement for all Medicaid services decreased by 44% from $5 million in the year pri or to discharge to $2.8 million in the year after discharge. Also, individu als (32%) who completed the program were less likely to use costly acute ca re services. This study was limited by the absence of a control group and p osttreatment alcohol and drug use data. In addition, other unmeasured facto rs could have explained the association between program completion and bett er outcomes.