Reducing treatment costs in a community support program.

Abstract

they have indicated that the CSP model may be a cost-effective alternative to traditional modalities. For example, Hoult and Reynolds (1 1) found that a CSP-type program in Australia cost 2 1 percent less than traditional hospitalization and aftercare. Despite these findings, policymakers and legislators have understandably continued to question the high costs of CSPs. They have frequently asked whether the programs are effective in reducing costly hospitalizations and whether they are sufficiently cost-effective to warrant replication or expansion. To answer these and other questions related to costs and recidivism, we conducted a retrospective study of the records of the intensive community support and treatment program (ICSTP) of the Highline West Seattle Mental Health Center.