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Lower Copayment Brings More Adolescents Into Treatment

Alcohol and drug use by teenagers creates major health and policy issues. The sheer size of this group – today’s adolescents make up the largest generation in American history – illuminates the need for substance-use treatment services. This study looks at the effects of a reduction in the copayment amount by a large self-insured state employer on utilization of adolescent services. Specifically, does the number of adolescent users of substance-use outpatient services increase if there is a resultant reduction in cost-sharing arrangements?

Researchers analyzed 31,585 records on utilization of mental health and substance-abuse services by members of a state-indemnity plan from July 1998 through December 2001, equaling 36 months of pre-treatment data and six months of post-treatment data. Monthly data were analyzed from both before and after copayment changes were implemented.

Results suggest that a reduction in adolescents’ substance-use service copayment requirements to a level that is equal to that for general medical services may help assure full parity between these types of services. Specifically, analysis revealed a significant increase in the number of independent adolescent users of substance-use services in the month following the change in copayment requirements.

(Ciemins, EL: The effect of parity-induced copayment reductions on adolescent utilization of substance use services. Journal of Studies on Alcohol 65:731-735, 2004.)

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