The authors document and discuss the utilization of psychiatric services
in a rural group practice before and after the institution of a prepaid
health plan. They found that the utilization of psychiatric services
increased dramatically during the first year of the plan's operation. The
increase in outpatient utilization continued throughout the 3 years
studied, but inpatient utilization decreased after the first year and later
reached a level lower than that seen before the plan was instituted. One
possible reason for the decline in inpatient utilization is that increased
outpatient care prevents hospitalization.
Abstract Teaser