Table 1. Change in Costs and Use of Services Among Insured People After Enrollment in Managed Behavioral Health Carve-Out

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Reducing Costs in the Health Care System

Table 1. Change in Costs and Use of Services Among Insured People After Enrollment in Managed Behavioral Health Carve-Out

Item	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Difference between Year 1 and Year 4
Treatment prevalence	5.0%	5.6%	6.2%	7.3%	+46%
Change in plan costs	—	-25%	-13%	-7%	-39%
Admissions per 1,000	5.6	5.2	6.2	5.2	-6%
Mean length of stay in days	24.9	17.1	10.6	9.1	-66%
Any outpatient use	4.7%	5.4%	6.1%	7.0%	+49%
Mean visits per user	7.4	8.0	8.0	7.6	+3%

Source: Zuvekas SH, Regier DA, Rae DS, et al. The impacts of mental health parity and managed care in one large employer group. Health Aff 2002; 21(3):148-59.

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