Achieving Access Parity for Inpatient Psychiatric Care Requires Repealing the Medicaid Institutions for Mental Disease Exclusion Rule.

Approximately 3.4% of Americans have a mental health condition and suicide is the 10th leading cause of death. While the rate of mental health conditions has slightly increased for adult populations, America's youth has experienced a significant rise in depression. From 2008 to 2017, occurrence of depression in the adolescent population increased from 8.3% to 13.3%. As adolescents mature into adults; it is likely the rate of mental health conditions for the adult population will rise as well as it is the common thread that binds the diseases of despair: drug abuse, alcoholism, and suicide. Arising out of the deinstitutionalization movement of the 1960s, the Medicaid Institutions for Mental Disease (IMD) Exclusion Rule (§1905(a)(B) of the Social Security Act) prohibits reimbursement for Medicaid recipients ages 21 to 64 years receiving inpatient care at a psychiatric hospital with 16 or more beds. Consequently, the rule limits payment for psychiatric treatment to general hospitals and smaller, nonspecialized centers, which blocks patients from receiving inpatient care and transfers the financial burden of care onto psychiatric hospitals. The IMD Rule is approaching its 55th anniversary. It requires reevaluation. Although a state waiver process is available, use of this option has the potential to increase the incidence of racial and ethnic disparities across states. Full repeal of the IMD Exclusion Rule could help provide immediate access to inpatient care that is consistent nationwide and be a vital step toward creating financial, treatment and ethical parity for mental health services.

Budget impact analysis of long acting injection for schizophrenia in Japan.

Aims: To estimate the budgetary impact of providing additional reimbursement for long acting injections for schizophrenia patients in psychiatric hospital settings in Japan to improve patient outcomes in schizophrenia.Methods: Budget impact analysis of change in reimbursement policy using a prevalence-based model over a five-year time horizon. The results are reported as net change in expenditure and consequent cost/savings in Japanese yen at the time of analysis.Results: The budget impact analysis shows that an increase in reimbursement for LAIs could lead to cumulative savings of an estimated 36.6 billion JPY over five years. These savings result from a decrease in hospitalization costs and an increased usage of LAI (assumed to be 10%). Based on the sensitivity analysis, the saving estimates are most sensitive to change in market share of generic and branded oral antipsychotics.Limitations: Historical data were used to estimate the future costs of drug and hospitalization; however, it is not the best predictor of future, hence a source of potential bias. A good level of treatment adherence with oral antipsychotics was assumed, which is generally not the case; therefore, we might have overestimated the effectiveness of oral atypical antipsychotics. Additionally, the drug cost due to reimbursement might have also been overestimated because in clinical setting, the increase of LAI use may not have reached 10% of the market share. Lastly, patients' behavior was derived from models, which may have loosely approximated the reality.Conclusions: An additional reimbursement for the use of LAI in schizophrenia patients is likely to be cost neutral/cost saving and should be considered as a policy option to improve patient outcomes and budget sustainability.

Disease burden of schizophrenia patients visiting a Chinese regional mental health centre.

Aim & methods: A decision-analytic model was constructed to simulate a real-world cohort of Chinese patients visiting a Chinese regional mental health center for long-term health outcomes and direct medical costs. Results: When compared with age and gender-matched general population, the Chinese patients with schizophrenia were associated with reduced overall survival by 20.6 years (27.6 vs 48.2 years) and reduced quality-adjusted life years (QALY) by 18.4 QALY (18.4 vs 36.8 QALY), respectively, and increased lifetime direct medical costs by about three-times (US$84,324 vs 33,387 as of 31 December 2017) on average. Conclusion: The burden of schizophrenia was mainly driven by the mortality associated with relapsed schizophrenia and direct medical costs for schizophrenia in local mental health rehabilitation institutes.

Three Pathways of Seclusion Reduction Programs to Sustainability: Ten Years Follow Up in Psychiatry.

From 2004 onwards, above 50 seclusion reduction programs (SRP) were developed, implemented and evaluated in the Netherlands. However, little is known about their sustainability, as to which extent obtained reduction could be maintained. This study monitored three programs over ten years seeking to identify important factors contributing to this. We reviewed documents of three SRPs that received governmental funding to reduce seclusion. Next, we interviewed key figures from each institute, to investigate the SRP documents and their implementation in practice. We monitored the number of seclusion events and the number of seclusion days with the Argus rating scale over ten years in three separate phases: 2008-2010, 2011-2014 and 2015-2017. As we were interested in sustainability after the governmental funding ended in 2012, our focus was on the last phase. Although in different rate, all mental health institutes showed some decline in seclusion events during and immediately after the SRP. After end of funding one institute showed numbers going up and down. The second showed an increase in number of seclusion days. The third institute displayed a sustained and continuous reduction in use of seclusion, even several years after the received funding. This institute was the only one with an ongoing institutional SRP after the governmental funding. To sustain accomplished seclusion reduction, a continuous effort is needed for institutional awareness of the use of seclusion, even after successful implementation of SRPs. If not, successful SRPs implemented in psychiatry will easily relapse in traditional use of seclusion.

Costs of Mental Health Services in Czechia: Facilitating an Evidence-Based Reform of Psychiatric Care.

BACKGROUND: Information about unit costs of psychiatric care is largely unavailable in Central and Eastern Europe, which poses an obstacle to economic evaluations as well as evidence-based development of the care in the region. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to calculate the unit costs of inpatient and community mental health services in Czechia and to assess the current practices of data collection by mental healthcare providers. METHODS: We used bottom-up microcosting to calculate unit costs from detailed longitudinal accounts and records kept by three psychiatric hospitals and three community mental health providers. RESULTS: An inpatient day in a psychiatric hospital costs 1504 Czech koruna (CZK; €59), out of which 75% is consumed by hotel services and the rest by medication and therapies. The costed inpatient therapies include individual therapies provided by a psychiatrist or psychologist, consultations with a social worker, group therapies, organised cultural activities and training activities. As regards the community setting, we costed daycare social facilities, case management services, sheltered housing, supported housing, crisis help, social therapeutic workshops, individual placement and support, and self-help groups. CONCLUSIONS: The unit costs enable assigning financial value to individual items monitored by the Czech version of the Client Service Receipt Inventory, and thus estimation of costs associated with treatment of mental health problems. The employed methodology might serve as a guideline for the providers to improve data collection and to calculate costs of services themselves, with this information likely becoming more crucial for payers in the future.

[Implementation, initial results, and sustainability of the mental health services reform in Peru, 2013-2018]. / Implementación, resultados iniciales y sostenibilidad de la reforma de servicios de salud mental en el Perú, 2013-2018.

This paper analyzes the implementation, initial results, and sustainability of innovations in the provision, financing, and management of mental health services in Peru, carried out during 2013-2018. By applying new financing mechanisms and public management strategies, 104 Community Mental Health Centers and eight Protected Homes were implemented, which prove to be more efficient than psychiatric hospitals. The set of 29 centers created between 2015 and 2017 produced in 2018 an equivalent number in consultations (244,000 vs. 246,000) and patients attended (46,000 vs. 48,000) than the set of three psychiatric hospitals, but with 11% of financing and 43% of psychiatrists. The way mental health care is being provided is changing in Peru by involving citizens and communities in ongoing care and creating better conditions for the exercise of mental health rights. Community mental health reform has gained broad support from political, international, and academic sectors, and from the media. We conclude that the reform of community-based mental health services in Peru is viable and sustainable. It is in a position to scale up the entire health sector throughout the country, subject to the commitment of the authorities, the progressive increase in public financing, and national and international collaborative strategies.

Se analiza la implementación, resultados iniciales y sostenibilidad de innovaciones en la prestación, financiamiento y gestión de servicios de salud mental en el Perú, realizadas en el periodo 2013-2018. Aplicando nuevos mecanismos de financiamiento y estrategias de gestión pública se implementaron 104 Centros de Salud Mental Comunitarios y ocho Hogares Protegidos que muestran ser más eficientes que los hospitales psiquiátricos. El conjunto de los 29 centros creados entre 2015 y 2017, produjeron en el 2018 un número equivalente en atenciones (244 mil vs. 246 mil) y atendidos (46 mil vs. 48 mil) que el conjunto de los tres hospitales psiquiátricos, pero con el 11% de financiamiento y el 43% de psiquiatras. Se está cambiando la forma de atender la salud mental en el Perú involucrando a ciudadanos y comunidades en el cuidado continuo y creando mejores condiciones para el ejercicio de los derechos en salud mental. La reforma en salud mental comunitaria ha ganado amplio respaldo de sectores políticos, internacionales, académicos y medios de comunicación. Se concluye que la reforma de los servicios de salud mental de base comunitaria en el Perú es viable y sostenible. Está en condiciones para escalar a todo el sector salud en todo el territorio nacional, sujeto al compromiso de las autoridades, el incremento progresivo de financiamiento público y las estrategias colaborativas nacionales e internacionales.

Implementación, resultados iniciales y sostenibilidad de la reforma de servicios de salud mental en el Perú, 2013-2018 / Implementation, initial results, and sustainability of the mental health services reform in Peru, 2013-2018

RESUMEN Se analiza la implementación, resultados iniciales y sostenibilidad de innovaciones en la prestación, financiamiento y gestión de servicios de salud mental en el Perú, realizadas en el periodo 2013-2018. Aplicando nuevos mecanismos de financiamiento y estrategias de gestión pública se implementaron 104 Centros de Salud Mental Comunitarios y ocho Hogares Protegidos que muestran ser más eficientes que los hospitales psiquiátricos. El conjunto de los 29 centros creados entre 2015 y 2017, produjeron en el 2018 un número equivalente en atenciones (244 mil vs. 246 mil) y atendidos (46 mil vs. 48 mil) que el conjunto de los tres hospitales psiquiátricos, pero con el 11% de financiamiento y el 43% de psiquiatras. Se está cambiando la forma de atender la salud mental en el Perú involucrando a ciudadanos y comunidades en el cuidado continuo y creando mejores condiciones para el ejercicio de los derechos en salud mental. La reforma en salud mental comunitaria ha ganado amplio respaldo de sectores políticos, internacionales, académicos y medios de comunicación. Se concluye que la reforma de los servicios de salud mental de base comunitaria en el Perú es viable y sostenible. Está en condiciones para escalar a todo el sector salud en todo el territorio nacional, sujeto al compromiso de las autoridades, el incremento progresivo de financiamiento público y las estrategias colaborativas nacionales e internacionales.

ABSTRACT This paper analyzes the implementation, initial results, and sustainability of innovations in the provision, financing, and management of mental health services in Peru, carried out during 2013-2018. By applying new financing mechanisms and public management strategies, 104 Community Mental Health Centers and eight Protected Homes were implemented, which prove to be more efficient than psychiatric hospitals. The set of 29 centers created between 2015 and 2017 produced in 2018 an equivalent number in consultations (244,000 vs. 246,000) and patients attended (46,000 vs. 48,000) than the set of three psychiatric hospitals, but with 11% of financing and 43% of psychiatrists. The way mental health care is being provided is changing in Peru by involving citizens and communities in ongoing care and creating better conditions for the exercise of mental health rights. Community mental health reform has gained broad support from political, international, and academic sectors, and from the media. We conclude that the reform of community-based mental health services in Peru is viable and sustainable. It is in a position to scale up the entire health sector throughout the country, subject to the commitment of the authorities, the progressive increase in public financing, and national and international collaborative strategies.

The Kirkbride buildings in contemporary culture (1850-2015): from 'moral management' to horror films.

The so-called 'Kirkbride Plan' is a type of mental institution designed by the American psychiatrist Thomas Story Kirkbride. The Kirkbride-design asylums were built from 1848 to the end of the nineteenth century. Their structural characteristics were subordinated to a certain approach to moral management: exposure to natural light, beautiful views and good air circulation. These hospitals used several architectural styles, but they all had a similar general plan. The popularity of the model decreased for theoretical and economic reasons, so many were demolished or reused, but at least 25 of the original buildings became protected places. Over the years, surrounded by a legendary aura, these buildings have become a leitmotif of contemporary popular culture: 'the asylum of terror'.

Protocol for a quasi-experimental study of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of mother and baby units compared with general psychiatric inpatient wards and crisis resolution team services (The ESMI study) in the provision of care for women in the postpartum period.

INTRODUCTION: Research into what constitutes the best and most effective care for women with an acute severe postpartum mental disorder is lacking. The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of psychiatric mother and baby units (MBUs) has not been investigated systematically and there has been no direct comparison of the outcomes of mothers and infants admitted to these units, compared with those accessing generic acute psychiatric wards or crisis resolution teams (CRTs). Our primary hypothesis is that women with an acute psychiatric disorder, in the first year after giving birth, admitted to MBUs are significantly less likely to be readmitted to acute care (an MBU, CRTs or generic acute ward) in the year following discharge than women admitted to generic acute wards or cared for by CRTs. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Quasi-experimental study of women accessing different types of acute psychiatric services in the first year after childbirth. Analysis of the primary outcome will be compared across the three service types, at 1-year postdischarge. Cost-effectiveness will be compared across the three service types, at 1-month and 1-year postdischarge; explored in terms of quality-adjusted life years. Secondary outcomes include unmet needs, service satisfaction, maternal adjustment, quality of mother-infant interaction. Outcomes will be analysed using propensity scoring to account for systematic differences between MBU and non-MBU participants. Analyses will take place separately within strata, defined by the propensity score, and estimates pooled to produce an average treatment effect with weights to account for cohort attrition. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has National Health Service (NHS) Ethics Approval and NHS Trust Research and Development approvals. The study has produced protocols on safeguarding maternal/child welfare. With input from our lived experience group, we have developed a dissemination strategy for academics/policy-makers/public.

[Structural features and regional characteristics of psychiatric hospitals in Germany]. / Strukturmerkmale und regionale Besonderheiten psychiatrischer Krankenhäuser in Deutschland.

BACKGROUND: The German Law for the Development of Care and Funding for Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Services (PsychVVG) has established a new regulation for the mental healthcare system. In the future, characteristics of hospitals and catchment areas will be an elementary part of negotiations on remuneration. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify structural and regional characteristics of psychiatric hospitals in Germany that contribute to increased average costs according to the views of clinical managers and directors. METHODS: In this study 37 guided expert interviews were conducted with business managers, financial controllers, leading medical and nursing personnel from psychiatric hospitals and the characteristics relevant for the budget and increased average costs were collated. RESULTS: Important factors with top priority were hospital infrastructure, characteristics of the catchment area and specialties of inpatient services provided. Obligatory service for a defined catchment area, increased documentation requirements and infrastructure of buildings and grounds were estimated as being associated with the highest additional financial expenditure. CONCLUSION: It is a challenge for clinics to prove increased average costs due to the respective hospital structural and regional characteristics. This study shows which characteristics should be considered as most cost-relevant from the perspective of hospital management.

Cost-effectiveness of care for people with psychosis in the community and psychiatric hospitals in the Czech Republic: an economic analysis.

BACKGROUND: The absence of economic evidence hinders current reforms of hospital-based mental health systems in central and eastern Europe. We aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of discharge to community care for people with chronic psychoses compared with care in psychiatric hospitals in the Czech Republic. METHODS: We did a prospective study of people aged 18-64 years with chronic psychotic disorders in the Czech Republic who had been discharged into community services or were receiving inpatient psychiatric care for at least 3 months at baseline. We measured health-related quality of life with the EuroQol five-dimension five-level questionnaire. Adjusting for baseline differences between the two groups, we assessed differences in societal costs in 2016 and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) during a 12-month follow-up, which we then used to estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). We did multiple sensitivity analyses to assess the robustness of our results. FINDINGS: In our baseline case scenario, we included 115 patients who were either community service users (n=35) or inpatients (n=80) at baseline. The two groups were similar in terms of baseline characteristics. The annual QALY was 0·77 in patients receiving community care at baseline compared with 0·80 in patients in hospital at baseline (difference 0·03, 95% CI -0·04 to 0·10), but the costs of discharge to the community were €8503 compared with €16 425 for no discharge (difference €7922, 95% CI 4497-11 346), such that the ICER reached more than €250 000 per QALY. This ICER is substantially higher than levels that are conventionally considered to be cost-effective and the estimated probability that discharge to the community was cost-effective was very high (≥97%). None of the sensitivity analyses changed these results qualitatively. INTERPRETATION: This study provides economic evidence for deinstitutionalisation by showing that discharge to community care is cost-effective compared with care in psychiatric hospitals in the Czech Republic. These findings add to the human rights and clinical-based arguments for mental health-care reforms in central and eastern Europe. FUNDING: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic; EEA and Norway Grants.

Medicare Program; FY 2019 Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System and Quality Reporting Updates for Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2018 (FY 2019). Final rule.

This final rule updates the prospective payment rates for Medicare inpatient hospital services provided by inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPFs), which include psychiatric hospitals and excluded psychiatric units of an acute care hospital or critical access hospital. These changes are effective for IPF discharges occurring during the fiscal year (FY) beginning October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019 (FY 2019). This final rule also updates the IPF labor-related share, the IPF wage index for FY 2019, and the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD- 10-CM) codes for FY 2019. It also makes technical corrections to the IPF regulations, and updates quality measures and reporting requirements under the Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Quality Reporting (IPFQR) Program. In addition, it updates providers on the status of IPF PPS refinements.

TARPSY: A New System of Remuneration for Psychiatric Hospitalization in Switzerland.

As financing mental health care is becoming more challenging, governments are progressively introducing new remuneration systems. At the beginning of 2018, Switzerland introduced TARPSY, a new tariff system based on diagnosis-related psychiatric cost groups that takes into consideration ratings of severity and complexity. TARPSY is expected to provide incentives for medically and economically meaningful treatment, increase transparency, and improve the quality of the provided services by triggering competition between hospitals. Yet some fear that TARPSY will lead to an economization of mental health, encouraging a reduction in length of stay and medically indicated treatment.

An Analysis of Accreditation and Its Impact on Receiving Funding in Mental Health Hospital.

This paper examines the accreditation of mental health facilities and sources of funding. The funding sources examined are Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Administration, private insurance, and client fees. Other factors included are the type of ownership of the facility. The conclusion is that accreditation is important. Different accreditations are important for different funding sources. The most important accreditations are state accreditations. Type of ownership is important, but relatively the least important.

[Activities without patient contact : Estimate of time costs based on telephone interviews in eight psychiatric hospitals]. / Tätigkeiten ohne Patientenkontakt : Zeitaufwandsschätzungen aus Telefoninterviews in acht psychiatrischen Kliniken.

The aim of this pilot study was to estimate the share of working time that staff in psychiatric hospitals theoretically spend on obligatory activities, such as training and further education, organizational and documentation tasks as well as statutory lecturing duties without patient contact. A total of 47 physicians, 39 nurses, 34 psychologists and 35 social workers from eight psychiatric hospitals were interviewed. The results reveal that the theoretically remaining time for direct patient contact is low. The ratio of time spent with versus time spent without patient contact was even worse for senior physicians and leading nurses as well as part-time employees; however, all activities without direct contact to patients seemed to be indispensable in terms of quality of treatment and care. Hence, employees in German psychiatric hospitals regularly have to make decisions on which of their duties they prefer to neglect, to which they are actually obligated.

Rural-urban disparities in the utilization of mental health inpatient services in China: the role of health insurance.

Reducing rural-urban disparities in health and health care has been a key policy goal for the Chinese government. With mental health becoming an increasingly significant public health issue in China, empirical evidence of disparities in the use of mental health services can guide steps to reduce them. We conducted this study to inform China's on-going health-care reform through examining how health insurance might reduce rural-urban disparities in the utilization of mental health inpatient services in China. This retrospective study used 10 years (2005-2014) of hospital electronic health records from the Shandong Center for Mental Health and the DaiZhuang Psychiatric Hospital, two major psychiatric hospitals in Shandong Province. Health insurance was measured using types of health insurance and the actual reimbursement ratio (RR). Utilization of mental health inpatient services was measured by hospitalization cost, length of stay (LOS), and frequency of hospitalization. We examined rural-urban disparities in the use of mental health services, as well as the role of health insurance in reducing such disparities. Hospitalization costs, LOS, and frequency of hospitalization were all found to be lower among rural than among urban inpatients. Having health insurance and benefiting from a relatively high RR were found to be significantly associated with a greater utilization of inpatient services, among both urban and rural residents. In addition, an increase in the RR was found to be significantly associated with an increase in the use of mental health services among rural patients. Consistent with the existing literature, our study suggests that increasing insurance schemes' reimbursement levels could lead to substantial increases in the use of mental health inpatient services among rural patients, and a reduction in rural-urban disparities in service utilization. In order to promote mental health care and reduce rural-urban disparities in its utilization in China, improving rural health insurance coverage (e.g., reducing the coinsurance rate) would be a powerful policy instrument.

Appointment Reminders to Decrease 30-Day Readmission Rates to Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitals.

PURPOSE OF PROJECT: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to reduce 30-day readmission rates to inpatient psychiatric hospitals by standardizing discharge processes by including scheduling outpatient psychiatric appointments for all patients at discharge and also to include the mailing postal reminders to prompt patients to attend their first outpatient mental health appointment following treatment. PRIMARY PRACTICE SETTING: Inpatient psychiatric hospital. METHODOLOGY AND SAMPLE: The project design was an analysis of readmission data obtained both 3 months before and after implementation of the postal reminder letters. This project took place at a 50-bed inpatient psychiatric hospital in the southeastern United States that accepts male and female adult patients with mental health and substance abuse disorders. RESULTS: The implementation of an appointment reminder letter resulted in a slight decrease in 30-day readmission rates. The average readmission rate 3 months prior to implementation was 10%. The average readmission rate 3 months postdischarge was 9%. December 2015 was included in the postimplementation data. December historically has higher rates of 30-day readmissions at this facility. If this month had been excluded, more dramatic decrease in 30-day readmission rates could be observed. IMPLICATIONS FOR CASE MANAGEMENT PRACTICE: Future implications for case management practice could include the usage of reminder prompts via telephone communication or text messaging in conjunction with postal reminders. The psychiatric population can be particularly challenging when considering increased risk for readmission within 30 days and also the impending pay-for-performance quality measures, which are soon to be implemented. Measures should be taken now to ensure that readmission rates decrease, not only to promote better patient outcomes, but also as a cost-saving measure. Although many variables may contribute to the risk for 30-day readmission rates including medication noncompliance, lack of proper follow-up, as well as seasonal trends, the postal appointment reminder letters may further decrease 30-day readmission rates. Other care management strategies combined with reminder letters may further address barriers that may exist to not only improve patient outcomes, but also to further reduce readmission rates. It is also important to mention that there are further implications that could be directly contributed to specific social determinants of health specific to the psychiatric population. For example, access to prescribed medications and transportation to appointments should be addressed to further reduce readmission rates for this vulnerable population.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an integrated care program for schizophrenia: an analysis of routine data.

In Germany, a regional social health insurance fund provides an integrated care program for patients with schizophrenia (IVS). Based on routine data of the social health insurance, this evaluation examined the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the IVS compared to the standard care (control group, CG). The primary outcome was the reduction of psychiatric inpatient treatment (days in hospital), and secondary outcomes were schizophrenia-related inpatient treatment, readmission rates, and costs. To reduce selection bias, a propensity score matching was performed. The matched sample included 752 patients. Mean number of psychiatric and schizophrenia-related hospital days of patients receiving IVS (2.3 ± 6.5, 1.7 ± 5.0) per quarter was reduced, but did not differ statistically significantly from CG (2.7 ± 7.6, 1.9 ± 6.2; p = 0.772, p = 0.352). Statistically significant between-group differences were found in costs per quarter per person caused by outpatient treatment by office-based psychiatrists (IVS: €74.18 ± 42.30, CG: €53.20 ± 47.96; p < 0.001), by psychiatric institutional outpatient departments (IVS: €4.83 ± 29.57, CG: €27.35 ± 76.48; p < 0.001), by medication (IVS: €471.75 ± 493.09, CG: €429.45 ± 532.73; p = 0.015), and by psychiatric outpatient nursing (IVS: €3.52 ± 23.83, CG: €12.67 ± 57.86, p = 0.045). Mean total psychiatric costs per quarter per person in IVS (€1117.49 ± 1662.73) were not significantly lower than in CG (€1180.09 ± 1948.24; p = 0.150). No statistically significant differences in total schizophrenia-related costs per quarter per person were detected between IVS (€979.46 ± 1358.79) and CG (€989.45 ± 1611.47; p = 0.084). The cost-effectiveness analysis showed cost savings of €148.59 per reduced psychiatric and €305.40 per reduced schizophrenia-related hospital day. However, limitations, especially non-inclusion of costs related to management of the IVS and additional home treatment within the IVS, restrict the interpretation of the results. Therefore, the long-term impact of this IVS deserves further evaluation.

Cost Analysis of Community Based Family Support of Patients with Severe Mental Illness.

Community-based family support is a new option to patients with severe mental illness in which the patient and a volunteer family meet on a regular basic. This study examined whether this support could reduce patients' use of psychiatric services. This matched case-control study included 86 patients with severe mental illness. 40 patients were offered the intervention: community-based family support intervention. Patients' use of psychiatric hospital services was followed from 2 years before to 2 years after the intervention using a difference-in-difference analytical approach. Although community-based family support seemed to reduce hospital admission, the reduction in cost did not compensate the cost of the programme. However, this does not rule out the potential cost effectiveness, and future studies should assess the clinical benefits and cost effectiveness of community-based family support. The present study does not provide sufficient basis for recommending the general implementation of community-based family support.