Residential treatment centers: peer review by APA and CHAMPUS

The authors describe a nine-year collaboration between the American Psychiatric Association and CHAMPUS to ensure quality psychiatric treatment in residential treatment centers ( RTCs ). After discussing the development of RTCs and the effects of early peer review, the authors detail the development of the APA/ CHAMPUS peer review project. During the first five months of the project the reviewers found that RTC care under CHAMPUS was usually necessary and of adequate quality; however, the reviewers found limited medical presence and insufficient documentation at some centers. The authors endorse continued review by the APA/ CHAMPUS peer review project to ensure the appropriate utilization of RTC care.