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Mental Health
The role of public and private transfers in the cost-benefit analysis of mental health programs
Article first published online: 5 APR 2004
DOI: 10.1002/hec.899
Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
1099-1050/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=af8abe1b1dd6990bc2f6af06e451153b7d74332a "Health Economics")
Additional Information
How to Cite
Brent, R. J. (2004), The role of public and private transfers in the cost-benefit analysis of mental health programs. Health Economics, 13: 1125–1136. doi: 10.1002/hec.899
Publication History
- Issue published online: 26 OCT 2004
- Article first published online: 5 APR 2004
- Manuscript Accepted: 13 NOV 2003
- Manuscript Received: 21 AUG 2002
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- cost-benefit analysis;
- transfer payments;
- mental health;
- case management programs;
- sector and distributional weights
Abstract
This paper revisits the issue of whether to include maintenance costs in an economic evaluation in mental health. The source of these maintenance costs may be public or private transfers. The issue is discussed in terms of a formal cost-benefit criterion. It is shown that, when transfers have productivity effects, income distribution is important, and one recognizes that public transfers have tax implications, transfers can have real resource effects and cannot be ignored. The criterion is then applied to an evaluation of three case management programs in California that sought to reduce the intensive hospitalization of the severely mentally ill. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.