INTRODUCTION: Although depression and anxiety affect approximately 20% of children and adolescents, many of those affected do not receive treatment because, in large part to the shortage of mental health providers across the United States. As an alternative to traditional mental health counseling, the Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE) program is an evidence-based manualized 7-session cognitive behavioral therapy-based program that is being effectively delivered to children and teens with depression and anxiety by pediatric and family healthcare providers in primary care practices with reimbursement from insurers. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to perform a cost analysis of delivering COPE and compare it to the cost of hospitalization for primary mental health diagnosis. RESULTS: Findings indicated a cost savings of $14,262 for every hospitalization that is prevented. DISCUSSION: Implementation of COPE can improve outcomes for children and teens with depression and anxiety, and could potentially result in millions of dollars of cost savings for the U.S. healthcare system.
INTRODUCTION: Although depression and anxiety affect approximately 20% of children and adolescents, many of those affected do not receive treatment because, in large part to the shortage of mental health providers across the United States. As an alternative to traditional mental health counseling, the Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE) program is an evidence-based manualized 7-session cognitive behavioral therapy-based program that is being effectively delivered to children and teens with depression and anxiety by pediatric and family healthcare providers in primary care practices with reimbursement from insurers. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to perform a cost analysis of delivering COPE and compare it to the cost of hospitalization for primary mental health diagnosis. RESULTS: Findings indicated a cost savings of $14,262 for every hospitalization that is prevented. DISCUSSION: Implementation of COPE can improve outcomes for children and teens with depression and anxiety, and could potentially result in millions of dollars of cost savings for the U.S. healthcare system.