Am J Psychiatry 1980; 137:1589-1591
Copyright © 1980 by American Psychiatric Association
Measuring psychiatric utilization: the rubber yardstick
J Krizay
The author suggests that measuring utilization of benefits for nervous and
mental disorders by using the percent of total benefits paid is imprecise
because even small changes in the much larger portion of benefit payments
that are attributable to nonpsychiatric services can make it appear that
the level of psychiatric utilization has changed. His preferred measure is
a calculation of covered charges attributable to psychiatric care per each
person covered under the plan. The author illustrates his points by showing
that, when properly calculated, psychiatric utilization under the Civilian
Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services is much lower than
that under many other plans.
