Effects of a Behavioral Health Carve-Out on Inpatient-Related Quality Indicators for Major Depression Treatment

Abstract

Under this behavioral health carve-out, follow-up treatment was more likely, and estimated risk of readmission did not change significantly for a seriously ill subgroup of enrollees. This was true even when controlling for patient variables and using data for extended time "at risk" for each indicator. Future research on carveouts should move toward direct clinical quality measurement.