Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research published a study examining differences between states in out-of-home mental health services for children enrolled in Medicaid.  The study examined 2003 data on the types of out-of-home mental health services children on Medicaid utilized, including general hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and psychiatric residential treatment facilities.  The authors also studied the cost of those services, and found that state Medicaid spending on out-of-home mental health services ranged from 21 percent to 75 percent of Medicaid spending on mental health services.  The authors suggest that the high level of variance indicates a need for further research on the topic.

Brown, J., Natzke, B., Ireys, H., Gillingham, M. and Hamiltom, M.  (2010).  State variation in out-of-Home Medicaid mental health services for children and youth: an examination of residential treatment and inpatient hospital services.  Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 37(4): 318-326.  doi: 10.1007/s10488-009-0235-x.  http://www.springerlink.com/content/l60377330ku18630/

Authors: Johnathan Brown, Brenda Natzke, Henry Ireys, Matthew Gillingham and Morris Hamilton