Fiscal Changes for Core Mental Health Services Delivered by Fee-for-Service Physicians

Lin E, Goering P. April 2000

Core mental health services include the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of emotional, mental or addiction problems. These services are typically provided by a psychiatrist for persons with a psychiatric disorder, but may involve general practitioners or family physicians for other types of conditions.

This research atlas examined fiscal changes to fee-for-service mental health services between 1992/93 and 1997/98 and found that costs increased as more Ontarians sought mental health care. However, patient groups underserved in 1992/93 were still underserved five years later.

Keywords: Mental health services Health care costs Physician incentive plans