More of the financial burden of mental health treatment shifted to public programs during the decade ending 2001, according to new research published March 29 on the Health Affairs web site. Public programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, grew at an annual rate of 6.8 percent, while spending by private payers grew at an annual rate of 3.7 percent.

Researchers also found that while the share of spending for inpatient mental health services declined 12 percentage points to 28 percent by 2001, the share of spending for mental health drugs grew percentage points, to 7 percent, in 2001.

To read the article, go to www.healthaffairs.org, click on “Web Exclusives” and then “2005,” and scroll down to “U.S. Spending for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment, 1991-2001.”