Comparison of outcomes by gender and for fee-for-service versus managed care - A study of nine community programs

During-treatment services and 7-month posttreatment entry outcome of cocain e- or alcohol-dependent men (n = 145) and women (n = 149) Target City patie nts receiving either standard fee-for-services (n = 183) or managed care tr eatment funding (n = 111) in nine community outpatient programs were compar ed. No differences were found in treatment services received by the various subgroups. Regression analyses compared the four described subgroups (Gend er x Type of Funding) on their seven Addiction Severity Index composite sco res at 7 months postadmission controlling for the respective baseline compo site score and several background variables on which the groups differed. S urprisingly few outcome differences were revealed between men and women pat ients and patients receiving the two forms of treatment funding. The only d ifference noted was that patients treated via managed care showed more impr ovement in the drug area. The need for further evaluation of the effects of managed care is emphasized. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights rese rved.