Abstract
To evaluate the association between Medicaid mental health capitation and youth's involvement with the juvenile justice system. A longitudinal, quasi-experimental pre/post design was used. Using administrative databases, juvenile justice contact, defined as any detention or commitment, was assessed for 13,365 Medicaid-eligible youths, aged 10-17 years, who received public mental health services over a 3-year period (1994-1997) in the state of Colorado. There was no significant effect of financing when secular time was controlled for (interaction financing x time: hazard rate = 0.92, p =.62). The main effects model demonstrates a significant secular trend with juvenile justice contacts decreasing over time for both types of financing (hazard rate = 0.80, p =.002) and a significant effect of financing with eventually capitated sites having higher rates of juvenile justice contact compared with sites that remained fee-for-service (hazard rate = 1.24, p =. 009). Multivariate analyses controlled for demographics, mental health and substance use diagnoses, and other risk factors for juvenile justice contact. After adjustment for secular trends, capitation was not associated with a reduction in juvenile justice contact. Nonetheless, these findings provide evidence that capitation did not increase the risk of juvenile justice contact.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call