NCJ Number
50646
Date Published
1975
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A MODEL FOR PROGRAM ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION BASED ON THE LOGIC OF COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS IS PRESENTED, WITH EMPHASIS ON ITS APPLICATION TO MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS.
Abstract
OUTPUT VALUE ANALYSIS IS CONSIDERED A VARIATION OF COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS WHICH FOCUSES ON ONE MAJOR KIND OF BENEFIT FROM A TREATMENT PROGRAM, TOGETHER WITH THE COSTS THAT ARE CONNECTED WITH THAT PROGRAM. THE METHOD CONSISTS OF THREE COMPONENTS: (1) AN ESTIMATE OF PROGRAM RESULTS; (2) A TRANSLATION OF THESE RESULTS INTO MONETARY VALUES; AND (3) AN ESTIMATE OF PROGRAM COSTS. THE USE OF THESE COMPONENTS IS ILLUSTRATED IN THEIR APPLICATION TO A MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM. THE OUTPUT VALUE ANALYSIS SELECTS WHAT IS CONSIDERED THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PRODUCT OF THE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM, THE CLIENT WHO IS EQUIPPED TO FUNCTION NORMATIVELY IN THE COMMUNITY. THE MODEL FOCUSES ON THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP THE PATIENT, WHICH IS ESTIMATED FROM THE CLINICIAN'S OVERALL JUDGMENT OF THE PATIENT'S IMPROVEMENT AT THE TIME OF DISCHARGE. TRANSLATING THESE RESULTS INTO ECONOMIC VALUES INVOLVED TWO STEPS: (1) ESTIMATING THE CLIENT'S INCREASED ECONOMIC PRODUCTIVITY AS A RESULT OF TREATMENT; AND (2) ESTIMATING THE VALUE OF THE CLIENT'S RESPONSE TO THE PROGRAM. THE DETAILED PROCEDURES FOR ACCOMPLISHING THESE STEPS ARE DESCRIBED. ASCERTAINING THE PROGRAM INPUT COSTS INVOLVED THE DETERMINATION OF DIRECT TREATMENT STAFF COSTS AND ALSO SUPPORTING SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, EACH MEASURED ACCORDING TO ITS INDIVIDUAL APPLICATION. SOME OF THE INFORMATION VALUABLE FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT CAN BE DERIVED FROM THE APPLICATION OF THIS MODEL ARE REVIEWED. SOME OF THE LIMITATIONS OF THE MODEL AND PROBLEMS FREQUENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH ITS USE ARE ALSO CONSIDERED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)