Point of Entry and Functional Impairment as Predictors of Treatment Amount and Cost for Patients With Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Disorders in Santa Barbara County Mental Health Services

This study examines point of entry, functional impairment, comorbid diagnosis, and demographic variables as predictors of treatment amount and cost for patients with mental illness and substance abuse disorders in Santa Barbara County Mental Health Services. Overall, significant results were found for point of entry, with higher costs associated with mental health than chemical abuse point of entry. Furthermore, amount, modality, and cost of service varied widely across such variables as functional impairment with those rated as least impaired receiving the greatest amount of services at the greatest cost. Additional significant findings in treatment amount and cost are reported for variables such as homelessness, ethnicity, and age.