New research released by Evernorth, Cigna Corporation’s health services business, shows that when people with a diagnosed behavioral condition receive treatment, total health care costs decrease. The analysis revealed that behavioral health treatment in an outpatient setting, such as a psychologist’s office or virtual visits, leads to fewer emergency department visits and inpatient hospitalizations, decreasing costs by up to $1,377 per person in one year and up to $3,109 per person over two years.
The research assessed medical, behavioral, and pharmacy claims data for 275,000 customers over four years who were newly diagnosed with a behavioral health condition, such as anxiety, depression, or substance use disorder.
Read more:
- Impact of Behavioral Health Treatment on Total Cost of Care. Evernorth. November 2021