Costs of implementing and sustaining enhanced collaborative care programs involving community partners

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Mental Health Services
• Primary Care

Background:

• Collaborative care is an evidence-based model for treating depression in primary care.
• This study expanded the model by integrating community partners, such as community-based organizations (CBOs) and family members, into the care team.
• Seven sites implemented these enhanced collaborative care programs and collected cost data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the costs associated with implementing and sustaining collaborative care programs that include community partners.
• To provide data on the financial resources required for these integrated care models.
• To inform future partnership efforts by understanding the economic aspects of program development.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective data collection on planning and implementation costs.
• Prospective collection of cost-of-care activities over a 1-month period post-implementation.
• Personnel salary costs were adjusted to include 30% for benefits and 30% for administrative overhead.

Main Results:

• Total planning and implementation costs ranged from $39,280 to $60,575.
• Workflow development represented the largest implementation cost category ($16,325 to $31,375).
• Cost per patient post-implementation ranged from $154 to $544, with monthly administrative costs varying from $284 to $2328.

Conclusions:

• Collaborative care programs with community partners vary in structure, staffing, and costs.
• Collecting data on implementation and sustainability costs is vital for understanding the financial feasibility of partnerships.
• Assessing these costs is achievable and can guide future collaborative initiatives in healthcare.