Measuring psychiatric utilization: the rubber yardstick.

The author suggests that measuring utilization of benefits for nervous and mental disorders by using the percent of total benefits paid is imprecise because even small changes in the much larger portion of benefit payments that are attributable to nonpsychiatric services can make it appear that the level of psychiatric utilization has changed. His preferred measure is a calculation of covered charges attributable to psychiatric care per each person covered under the plan. The author illustrates his points by showing that, when properly calculated, psychiatric utilization under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services is much lower than that under many other plans.