Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research 6/2009

01-11-2009 | Original Paper

Integrated Employee Assistance Program/Managed Behavioral Health Care Benefits: Relationship with Access and Client Characteristics

Authors: Elizabeth S. Levy Merrick, Dominic Hodgkin, Constance M. Horgan, Deirdre Hiatt, Bernard McCann, Vanessa Azzone, Galina Zolotusky, Grant Ritter, Sharon Reif, Thomas G. McGuire

Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research | Issue 6/2009

Login to get access

Abstract

This study examined service user characteristics and determinants of access for enrollees in integrated EAP/behavioral health versus standard managed behavioral health care plans. A national managed behavioral health care organization’s claims data from 2004 were used. Integrated plan service users were more likely to be employees rather than dependents, and to be diagnosed with adjustment disorder. Logistic regression analyses found greater likelihood in integrated plans of accessing behavioral health services (OR 1.20, CI 1.17–1.24), and substance abuse services specifically (OR 1.23, CI 1.06–1.43). Results are consistent with the concept that EAP benefits may increase access and address problems earlier.
Literature
go back to reference Blum, T. C., & Roman, P. M. (1995). Cost-effectiveness and preventive implications of employee assistance programs (Vol. DHHS RP-0907). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration CfSAP (DHHS). Blum, T. C., & Roman, P. M. (1995). Cost-effectiveness and preventive implications of employee assistance programs (Vol. DHHS RP-0907). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration CfSAP (DHHS).
go back to reference Cuffel, B. J., & Regier, D. (2001). The relationship between treatment access and spending in a managed behavioral health organization. Psychiatric Services, 52, 949–952.CrossRefPubMed Cuffel, B. J., & Regier, D. (2001). The relationship between treatment access and spending in a managed behavioral health organization. Psychiatric Services, 52, 949–952.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Frank, R. G., & Garfield, R. L. (2007). Managed behavioral health care carve-outs: Past performance and future prospects. Annual Review of Public Health, 28, 303–320.CrossRefPubMed Frank, R. G., & Garfield, R. L. (2007). Managed behavioral health care carve-outs: Past performance and future prospects. Annual Review of Public Health, 28, 303–320.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Frank, R. G., Goldman, H. H., & McGuire, T. G. (2001). Will parity in coverage result in better mental health care? New England Journal of Medicine, 345(23), 1701–1704.CrossRefPubMed Frank, R. G., Goldman, H. H., & McGuire, T. G. (2001). Will parity in coverage result in better mental health care? New England Journal of Medicine, 345(23), 1701–1704.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Grazier, K. L., & Eselius, L. L. (1999). Mental health carve-outs: Effects and implications. Medical Care Research and Review, 56(Suppl 2), 37–59.PubMed Grazier, K. L., & Eselius, L. L. (1999). Mental health carve-outs: Effects and implications. Medical Care Research and Review, 56(Suppl 2), 37–59.PubMed
go back to reference Greenfield, S. F., Azzone, V., Huskamp, H., et al. (2004). Treatment for substance use disorders in a privately insured population under managed care: Costs and services use. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 27, 265–275.CrossRefPubMed Greenfield, S. F., Azzone, V., Huskamp, H., et al. (2004). Treatment for substance use disorders in a privately insured population under managed care: Costs and services use. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 27, 265–275.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Hargrave, G. E., Hiatt, D., Alexander, R., & Shaffer, I. A. (2008). EAP treatment Impact on presenteeism and absenteeism: Implications for return on investment. Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, 23(3), 283–293.CrossRef Hargrave, G. E., Hiatt, D., Alexander, R., & Shaffer, I. A. (2008). EAP treatment Impact on presenteeism and absenteeism: Implications for return on investment. Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, 23(3), 283–293.CrossRef
go back to reference Hodgkin, D., Merrick, E. L., Horgan, C. M., Garnick, D. W., & McLaughlin, T. J. (2007). Does type of gatekeeping model affect access to outpatient specialty mental health services? Health Services Research, 42(1 Pt 1), 104–123.CrossRefPubMed Hodgkin, D., Merrick, E. L., Horgan, C. M., Garnick, D. W., & McLaughlin, T. J. (2007). Does type of gatekeeping model affect access to outpatient specialty mental health services? Health Services Research, 42(1 Pt 1), 104–123.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Horgan, C. M., Garnick, D. W., Merrick, E. L., et al. (2009). Changes in how health plans provide behavioral health services. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 36(1), 11–24.CrossRef Horgan, C. M., Garnick, D. W., Merrick, E. L., et al. (2009). Changes in how health plans provide behavioral health services. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 36(1), 11–24.CrossRef
go back to reference Kessler, R. C., Akiskal, H. S., Ames, M., et al. (2006). Prevalence and effects of mood disorders on work performance in a nationally representative sample of U.S workers. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(156), 1–1568. Kessler, R. C., Akiskal, H. S., Ames, M., et al. (2006). Prevalence and effects of mood disorders on work performance in a nationally representative sample of U.S workers. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(156), 1–1568.
go back to reference Lindrooth, R. C., Lo Sasso, A. T., & Lurie, I. Z. (2005). The effect of expanded mental health benefits on treatment initiation and specialist utilization. Health Services Research, 40(4), 1092–1107.CrossRefPubMed Lindrooth, R. C., Lo Sasso, A. T., & Lurie, I. Z. (2005). The effect of expanded mental health benefits on treatment initiation and specialist utilization. Health Services Research, 40(4), 1092–1107.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Mangione, T. W., Howland, J., Amick, B., et al. (1999). Employee drinking practices and work performance. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 60, 261–270.PubMed Mangione, T. W., Howland, J., Amick, B., et al. (1999). Employee drinking practices and work performance. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 60, 261–270.PubMed
go back to reference Merrick, E. L., Hodgkin, D., Hiatt, D., et al. (2009). Patterns of service use in two types of managed behavioral health care. Psychiatric Services (in press). Merrick, E. L., Hodgkin, D., Hiatt, D., et al. (2009). Patterns of service use in two types of managed behavioral health care. Psychiatric Services (in press).
go back to reference Merrick, E. L., Volpe-Vartanian, J., Horgan, C. M., et al. (2007). Alcohol & drug abuse: Revisiting employee assistance programs and substance use problems in the workplace: Key issues and a research agenda. Psychiatric Services, 58, 1262–1264.CrossRefPubMed Merrick, E. L., Volpe-Vartanian, J., Horgan, C. M., et al. (2007). Alcohol & drug abuse: Revisiting employee assistance programs and substance use problems in the workplace: Key issues and a research agenda. Psychiatric Services, 58, 1262–1264.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Morgan, S. L., & Harding, D. J. (2006). Matching estimators of causal effects : Prospects and pitfalls in theory and practice. Sociological Methods and Research, 35, 3–60.CrossRef Morgan, S. L., & Harding, D. J. (2006). Matching estimators of causal effects : Prospects and pitfalls in theory and practice. Sociological Methods and Research, 35, 3–60.CrossRef
go back to reference Oss, M., Jardine, E. L., & MJ, P. (2002). OPEN MINDS yearbook of managed behavioral health & employee assistance program market share in the United States, 2002–2003. Gettysburg: Behavioral Health Industry News Inc. Oss, M., Jardine, E. L., & MJ, P. (2002). OPEN MINDS yearbook of managed behavioral health & employee assistance program market share in the United States, 2002–2003. Gettysburg: Behavioral Health Industry News Inc.
go back to reference Research Triangle Institute. (2002). SUDAAN user’s manual, release 8.0. Research Triangle Park, NC: Research Triangle Institute. Research Triangle Institute. (2002). SUDAAN user’s manual, release 8.0. Research Triangle Park, NC: Research Triangle Institute.
go back to reference Sturm, R. (1999). Tracking changes in behavioral health services: How have carve-outs changed care? Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 26, 360–371.CrossRef Sturm, R. (1999). Tracking changes in behavioral health services: How have carve-outs changed care? Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 26, 360–371.CrossRef
go back to reference Wang, P. S., Lane, M., Olfson, M., et al. (2005). Twelve-month use of mental health services in the United States: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(6), 629–640.CrossRefPubMed Wang, P. S., Lane, M., Olfson, M., et al. (2005). Twelve-month use of mental health services in the United States: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(6), 629–640.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Integrated Employee Assistance Program/Managed Behavioral Health Care Benefits: Relationship with Access and Client Characteristics
Authors
Elizabeth S. Levy Merrick
Dominic Hodgkin
Constance M. Horgan
Deirdre Hiatt
Bernard McCann
Vanessa Azzone
Galina Zolotusky
Grant Ritter
Sharon Reif
Thomas G. McGuire
Publication date
01-11-2009
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research / Issue 6/2009
Print ISSN: 0894-587X
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3289
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-009-0232-0

Other articles of this Issue 6/2009

Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research 6/2009 Go to the issue