New survey tracks behavioral health treatment trends

Behavioral healthcare systems are playing a major role in responding to the needs of the millions of Americans of all ages who experience psychiatric and substance use conditions each year, according to the latest annual survey from the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems (NAPHS) released.

The 2008 NAPHS Annual Survey provides two distinct views of behavioral healthcare delivery. One chapter provides a trend analysis that looks at changes from year to year in hospitals and residential treatment centers reporting over a two-year period. Another chapter provides national averages to give a snapshot of members' experiences in the reporting year. This chapter also presents selected data by set-up-and-staffed bed categories to help organizations compare their own experiences to those of facilities of a similar size.

Trend analysis shows strong demand for behavioral health services. Inpatient hospital admissions, for example, increased 3.5% from 2006 to 2007 (to an average of 2,688) in facilities reporting in both years. Hospital lengths of stay increased 1% (from 9.6 days in 2006 to 9.7 days in 2007). Trended residential treatment admissions in the same time frame held steady between 2006 and 2007 (a average of 179 in 2006 and 178 in 2007).

The survey also demonstrates great diversity of services, levels of care, and payer sources for children, adolescents, adults, and older adults experiencing mental and substance use disorders. In addition to hospital-level care, NAPHS-member facilities provide residential care, partial hospitalization, and outpatient care. Payer sources include Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, state governments, and others such as juvenile justice systems.

The report is $400-prepaid-from the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems, 701 13th Street, NW, Suite 950, Washington, DC 20005-3903. MasterCard, Visa, and American Express are accepted. Call 202/393-6700, ext. 106, for ordering information or see www.naphs.org.

NAPHS advocates for behavioral health and represents provider systems that are committed to the delivery of responsive, accountable, and clinically effective prevention, treatment, and care for children, adolescents, adults, and older adults with mental and substance use disorders. NAPHS members are behavioral healthcare provider organizations that own or manage more than 600 psychiatric hospitals, general hospital psychiatric and addiction treatment units and behavioral healthcare divisions, residential treatment facilities, youth services organizations, and extensive outpatient networks. The association was founded in 1933.