Case managed mental health care in the San Antonio catchment area: the crisis-intervention unit.

Through the use of government nursing case management, this crisis-focused inpatient psychiatric program provided cost-effective and therapeutically directed services to Civilian Health and Medical Program for the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS)-eligible beneficiaries in the San Antonio catchment area. Using managed care principles and a continuum-based case management model, these services were provided in local contracted civilian facilities. This acute care mental health program directly saved Brooke Army Medical Center 1.1 million mental health dollars and saved 7.7 million CHAMPUS dollars in total cost avoidance. Program costs were minimal, resulting in a 557% return on investment. A joint Army/Air Force endeavor, the program was originally administered by the Coordinated Care Division, Brooke Army Medical Center as a CHAMPUS recapture initiative. Currently under TRICARE management, the program continues intact as a managed care mental health service alternative.

Marketing budgeting in nonprofit hospitals.

The authors summarize the results of an investigation of the marketing budgeting practices of nonprofit hospitals. They examine various dimensions of budgeting behavior, including (1) the prevalence of budgeting methods that are widely used in the marketing of consumer and industrial goods, (2) the relationship between budgeting practices and the budgeting process, and (3) the relationship between budgeting practices and hospital strategy and performance. The authors also discuss implications for marketing executives and directions for future research.