Arch Gen Psychiat
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Various methods for estimating the cost of mandated mental health benefits have been devised, each resulting in substantially different estimates. These methods neglect to distinguish between the two components of cost to the insurer: social cost (due to increased utilization) and shifted cost (from other sources of payment). ⋯ We expect payments by the largest carrier in the state to increase by a factor of 1.65. More than half of this increase represents shifted costs rather than new costs to society.