Using MSIS Data to Analyze Mental Health Service Use and Expenditures for Medicaid Beneficiaries with Mental Illness in New Jersey in 1999

In the study described in this report, the authors used the Medicaid Statistical Information System (MSIS) files to examine the use and costs of Medicaid services for beneficiaries with mental illness in one state (New Jersey). This report includes an overview of findings on service use and costs for beneficiaries with mental illness compared with services for other Medicaid beneficiaries. It provides information on characteristics of the population with mental illness and the services they use. "High-cost" subgroup characteristics are examined, and findings and suggestions for potential next steps for examining patterns of service use and expenditures for beneficiaries with mental illness are also summarized. Finally, "lessons learned" regarding the utility of MSIS data is reviewed. [77 PDF pages]