Truven Health Analytics and SAMHSA Study Finds Lower Readmissions Among Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Patients Who Receive Care at Community Mental Health Centers

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Patients with Medicaid who receive treatment at community mental health centers are less likely to be readmitted, according to a new study conducted by researchers from Truven Health Analytics™, formerly the Healthcare business of Thomson Reuters, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

“Clearly, the next step is to understand how these post-discharge services affect patient outcomes, which is of course the most important endpoint.”

The paper, which appears online in the February 2013 issue of The Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, evaluated hospital readmission rates for Medicaid patients receiving psychiatric and substance abuse treatment. It found that hospitals with greater rates of Medicaid patient follow-up at community mental health centers had lower readmission rates.

“Reducing hospital readmissions have become a focal point for hospital administrators and third party payers, and our research finds that linkages to community mental health centers may be one way to reach that goal,” said Tami Mark, PhD a senior director at Truven Health Analytics and lead author of the study. “Clearly, the next step is to understand how these post-discharge services affect patient outcomes, which is of course the most important endpoint.”

The study also found that patients were significantly more likely to be readmitted if they had a prior inpatient stay, a substance use disorder, psychotic illness, or also had medical disorders. Longer hospital lengths of stay were associated with a lower chance of a readmission, but the effect size was small.

Data for the study were based on Truven Health’s MarketScan® Multistate Medicaid Database. The study analyzed individual-level, anonymous administrative claims data from 2004 through 2009. Overall, the database contains data for several million admissions from geographically dispersed states.

To read the complete study in The Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, click here.

About the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services that was established in 1992. The mission of the funding agency is to reduce the impact of mental and substance use disorders on America’s communities. The agency provides leadership in the provision of behavioral health services to improve the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and recovery support services. It also supports States, Territories, Tribes, communities, and local organizations through competitive grant and contract programs. Information about the agency and its strategic initiatives is available at http://www.samhsa.gov/

About Truven Health Analytics

Truven Health Analytics, formerly the Healthcare business of Thomson Reuters, delivers unbiased information, analytic tools, benchmarks, and services to the healthcare industry. Hospitals, government agencies, employers, health plans, clinicians, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies have relied on us for more than 30 years. We combine our deep clinical, financial, and healthcare management expertise with innovative technology platforms and information assets to make healthcare better by collaborating with our customers to uncover and realize opportunities for improving quality, efficiency, and outcomes. With more than 2,000 employees globally, we have major offices in Ann Arbor, Mich.; Chicago; and Denver. Advantage Suite, Micromedex, ActionOI, MarketScan, and 100 Top Hospitals are registered trademarks or trademarks of Truven Health Analytics.

For more information, please visit www.truvenhealth.com.