ADSS Cost Study: Costs of Substance Abuse Treatment in the Specialty Sector

摘要

Understanding the cost of resources used in substance abuse treatment is of critical concern to policymakers, payers, and providers of care. Federal and State policymakers are interested in cost-effective allocation of limited funds and in developing efficient financing structures to deliver substance abuse treatment services. State agencies, Medicaid, and managed behavioral health organizations allocate resources among types of care. The Alcohol and Drug Services Study (ADSS) was performed from 1996 to 1999. ADSS is a national study conducted in three phases to collect representative data on the characteristics of substance abuse treatment facilities, clients in treatment, post-treatment client status, and financing of care in the specialty substance abuse treatment sector. This sector includes freestanding substance abuse treatment centers, methadone maintenance clinics, and other facilities that primarily serve persons with substance abuse problems. The purpose of the ADSS cost study was to provide a detailed data file and national estimates for cost, revenue, counseling activities, and staffing collected from a nationally representative sample of substance abuse treatment facilities. This report provides a detailed description of the methods used in the ADSS cost study, along with findings regarding key cost variables important to understanding the use of resources in substance abuse treatment.