State Variations in the Out-of-Pocket Spending Burden for Outpatient Mental Health Treatment

This study examines M/SU parity laws and their potential effect on out-of-pocket mental health treatment costs.  The study found modest yet important variation in out-of-pocket burden across states but note that prescription drugs account for nearly two-thirds of out-of-pocket spending and fall largely outside the scope of federal M/SU parity laws.  The authors conclude that M/SU parity laws will do little to reduce the observed burden or inter-state variation.  

Zuvekas, S. H., & Meyerhoefer, C. D. (2009). State variations in the out-of-pocket spending burden for outpatient mental health treatment. Health Affairs, 28(3), 713-22. DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.3.713 http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/abstract/28/3/713 

Authors: Samuel H. Zuvekas, Chad D. Meyerhoefer.