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State mental health agency spending, 1985-1990
1Department of Economics, Boston University, MA 02215, USA.
Journal of Mental Health Administration
|July 1, 1995
Summary
State mental health spending varies significantly. Increased spending is linked to greater tax capacity and a larger share of health and welfare budgets, not just overall growth.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Public Health Policy
- Health Economics
Background:
- Significant state-level disparities exist in mental health care spending.
- Variations are observed in spending trends and resource allocation between state hospitals and community-based services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe variations in state mental health spending.
- To examine the relationship between fiscal determinants and mental health expenditure.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Research Institute.
- Analyzed state-level fiscal data and mental health spending from 1985 to 1990.
Main Results:
- No significant correlation found between overall spending levels in 1990 and spending changes from 1985-1990.
- States with higher spending growth demonstrated increased tax capacity and a greater proportion of mental health spending within their health and welfare budgets.
Conclusions:
- State fiscal capacity and budget allocation significantly influence mental health spending growth.
- Understanding these fiscal determinants is crucial for addressing spending disparities in mental health care.