Published in:
01-09-2015 | Original Research
Costs of implementing a behavioral weight-loss and lifestyle-change program for individuals with serious mental illnesses in community settings
Authors:
Scott P. Stumbo, MA, Bobbi Jo H. Yarborough, PsyD, Micah T. Yarborough, MA, Shannon L. Janoff, MPH, Victor J. Stevens, PhD, Mark Lewinsohn, PhD, Carla A. Green, PhD, MPH
Published in:
Translational Behavioral Medicine
|
Issue 3/2015
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Abstract
Little research has examined costs of adopting a successful lifestyle intervention for people with serious mental illnesses in community clinics. The study aims to calculate the real-world costs of implementing a group-based weight-loss and lifestyle intervention in community settings. We used empirically derived costs to estimate implementation costs and conducted sensitivity analyses to estimate costs: (1) when implementing the intervention in high/low resource-intensive environments and (2) assuming variability in participant enrollment. To implement the STRIDE program for 15 individuals with serious mental illnesses, we estimated costs for the 12-month (30-session) intervention, with materials available in the public domain, at $16,427 or $1095 per participant. The majority of costs, $12,767, were associated with direct labor costs. Replication costs are largely associated with labor. Community health centers offer an untapped resource for implementing behavioral-lifestyle interventions, particularly under the Affordable Care Act, though additional payment reforms or incentives may be needed.