Springer New York
New York
Springer
42822
1064-9506
2376-6786
Behavior and Social Issues
Behav. Soc. Iss.
Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Personality and Social Psychology
7
7
2
2
2
12
1997
10
Association for Behavior Analysis International
1997
702141
10.5210/bsi.v7i2.312
9
Providing Effective Interventions May Not Be Enough: The Importance of Cost Analysis in the Behavioral Health System
14
Economics
1402
Applied Economics
141
152
1997
2
23
1997
10
1
Association for Behavior Analysis International
1996
Peter-Cornelius
Dams
peter.dams@wmich.edu
grid.268187.2
0000 0001 0672 1122
Department of Psychology
Western Michigan University
49008
Kalamazoo
MI
USA
Abstract
The restructuring of the health care delivery system with its growing emphasis on cost-efficient treatment programs constitutes a shift in metacontingencies for the practice of behavioral health services. These changes are important for behavior analysts because funding sources pay increasing attention to the financial impact of behavioral services. This paper reviews two basic types of cost analysis: cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) and cost-benefit analysis (CBA). Examples from the behavioral health research literature indicate that information about treatment costs plays a crucial role in the overall evaluation of behavioral treatments and that cost-effective treatments can achieve monetary benefits without compromising treatment integrity. Paraprofessional therapists are a key element of cost-effective treatments. In order to overcome historical barriers to conducting and reporting cost analyses, the behavior analysis community must establish educational and editorial contingencies.
The author thanks Sean Coriaty, Steven C. Hayes, Jewlon Morris, Don Williams, and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript.