“Care as Usual” often involves poor access to care, poor quality, and poor results.  As a result, care as usual is costlier leading to preventable Emergency Room visits, hospitalizations, and high number of encounters.

Patients with both substance abuse and depression (Dual Disorder) who have the highest acuity and complexity are classified as “Very High Risk”.  These individuals may typically have multiple ED visits, at least one psychiatric hospitalization and at least one admission for medical detox in a year. Their annual treatment costs (not including pharmaceutical costs) can be over $50,000.  The financial burden to payors AND patients is extraordinary.

Those same individuals receiving care through Portages Health over the course of a year may undergo 2 Intensive Outpatient Program episodes of care, 2 Group Outpatient episodes of care, and at least one Coaching episode of care while receiving individual therapy and psychiatric care and avoiding ED visits, hospitalizations, and detox admissions. The annual cost to payors would be on average only $14,500 , leading to a savings of 365% when compared to costs for “care as usual”.  Patients at a moderate risk for depression, anxiety or substance abuse often undergo longer term psychotherapy because no other options are available to them. These same patients could benefit from the Portages Health Coaching Program and experience improved efficiency and effectiveness of care at a fraction of the cost.

Portages Health is able to provide care more efficiently and more effectively leading to profound savings when compared to costs associated with care as usual. The table below illustrates the average annual costs and the potential savings to payors comparing care by Portages Health to “Care as Usual” for individuals with Mental Health conditions and Substance Abuse Conditions based on a stratification of level of risk.