Calculating the Costs of Mental Health Care
Some Businesses Say Providing Coverage Saves Money
Treatment for mental illness is a major driver of health care inflation and second only to heart disease, according to a new study in the journal Health Affairs. And among mental health treatments, antidepressant drugs known as SSRIs are a big contributor to that cost inflation, the study concludes. Over the last year, pharmacies filled more than $146 million in prescriptions for SSRIs.
These growing costs have led many employers to view mental health benefits as a potential drain on profits, making businesses reluctant to provide health insurance coverage for mental illness.
In the third part of a series on SSRIs, NPR's Joanne Silberner reports on the role employers play in getting treatment for their workers with depression.
Related NPR Stories
Part 1: Clues to Depression Sought in Brain's Wiring Aug. 24, 2004
Texas Mental Health Plan Could Omit Thousands July 20, 2004
Comments
Discussions for this story are now closed. Please see the Community FAQ for more information.