Georgia Medicaid Peer Support Increases Costs For Prescriptions & Outpatient Care, Lowers Inpatient Costs

Average Medicaid prescription and outpatient care costs for Georgia Medicaid beneficiaries with mental illness who received Medicaid peer support services in 2003 and 2004 were higher than costs for a comparison group with mental illness who received traditional care. However average costs for inpatient psychiatric services, which are not covered by Georgia Medicaid, were lower among the beneficiaries receiving peer support.

In 2001, Georgia was the first state to implement peer support as a Medicaid billable service under the Medicaid Rehabilitation Option. However, Georgia's community-based mental health system of care was not very developed at that time. The . . .