A framework for assessing the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of behavioral healthcare

To evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of behavioral healthcare and to guide an assessment of the current state of the art of behavioral health-oriented health services research.

The framework is grounded in previous conceptual work by the authors in defining a prevention- and outcomes-oriented continuum of healthcare and in identifying and integrating the concepts and methods of health services research and policy analysis for assessing healthcare system performance.

The defining assumptions are that (1) the denominator for behavioral healthcare services must encompass a look at the population, not just the patients, who manifest behavioral health risks; and (2) the delivery system to address these needs must extend beyond acute, treatment-oriented services to include both primary prevention and aftercare services for chronic relapsing conditions.

Current policy and practice in behavioral healthcare reveal the absence of a comprehensive, coordinated continuum of care; substantial variation in policy and financial incentives to encourage such development; and poorly defined or articulated outcome goals and objectives. The current state of the art of research in this area reflects considerable imprecision in conceptualizing and measuring the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity criteria. Further, these 3 criteria have not been examined together in evaluating system performance.

The first era of behavioral healthcare focused on cost savings in managed care alternatives; the second is focusing on quality and outcomes; a third must consider the issues of equity and access to behavioral healthcare, especially for the most seriously ill and vulnerable, in an increasingly managed care-dominated public and private policy environment.