Current and Future Funding Sources for Specialty Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Providers

Abstract

As full implementation of the Affordable Care Act approaches, researchers are analyzing available data to reduce uncertainty about the future and help measure the effects of anticipated changes. This analysis of 1985–2005 data provides a baseline for understanding how the ACA and national parity will shift funding for specialty mental health and substance abuse treatment. The researchers documented substantial changes for hospital-based care, office-based providers, and specialty centers. They note that future spending increases are likely under both private insurance and Medicaid and that parity in private plans will shift payment sources for office-based professionals.