A demonstration of the cost benefits of case management services for discharged mental patients.

The authors report on a demonstration of the cost benefits of case management for hospitalized mental patients discharged from a New York State Community Mental Health Center to community living in a rural catchment area. Case managers promoted social rehabilitation and maximized time spent in the community. Comparison of the treatment group with matched controls on frequency and duration of rehospitalization during the 15 month intervention period shows a benefit conservatively estimated as 2.03 to 2.72, depending on size of case load.