An integrative model of cash collections for mental health centers.

Little has been published regarding Community Mental Health Centers and the collection of fees from clients. As centers of the 1980s have faced a sudden decrease in government funding, an effective system of cash collections has become paramount. Many locally-controlled centers have changed their mission to serving a broad spectrum of people with personal problems as well as the chronically mentally ill. This paper documents a system used by a midwestern center resulting in a 230% increase in client fee collections over four years. An integrative model describes collections assessment, developing an accountability system, basic principles of collections, fee setting and client mix. The ability to serve the poor, chronically mentally ill in the future will depend on the ability to serve the broader population of a community.