This study of the Massachusetts Medicaid program set out to determine the outcomes associated with managed behavioral health care carve outs for substance abuse treatment.  Access and continuity of care were improved under the carve out but readmission rates deteriorated.  The authors discuss the implications of these findings for improving Medicaid behavioral health outcomes and policy. 

Shepard, D. S., Daley, M., Ritter, G. A., Hodgkin, D., & Beinecke, R. H. (2002). Managed care and the quality of substance abuse treatment. Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics, 5(4), 163-74. http://www.icmpe.org/test1/journal/issues/v5i4/v5i4abs04.html

Authors: Donald S. Shepard, Marilyn Daley, Grant A. Ritter, Dominic Hoddgkin, Richard H. Beinecke