Am J Psychiatry 1989; 146:345-349
Copyright © 1989 by American Psychiatric Association
Financing the medical management of mental disorders
SS Sharfstein and H Goldman
Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21285-6815.
In 1987 Medicare benefits for the mentally ill were expanded for the first
time in 22 years. A major change was the removal of limits and copayments
for the "medical management of psychopharmacologic agents." Payment for
medical management recognizes the trend toward the remedicalization of
psychiatry; however, medical management can be defined either broadly or
narrowly. The authors suggest pricing strategies for both medical
management of mental disorders and psychotherapy. Enlightened design of
psychiatric benefits will cover all forms of treatment according to
appropriate rules. Access to treatment for mental illness is at stake as
these rules develop.
