OBJECTIVE

Due to increasing health care expenditures the discussion about advantages and disadvantages of new methods for resource allocation in mental health care has been intensified. A promising model is the Regional Budget for Mental Health Care, which is currently being examined in Schleswig-Holstein. The present paper describes first experiences with the new resource allocation model. BASIC CONDITIONS: An annual budget, provided for the treatment of a fixed number of patients, makes it possible to reduce inpatient capacity in favour of improved community-integrated approaches for the treatment of acute psychiatric illness.

RESULTS

In a first step inpatient capacity will be reduced by 8 percent. By the end of 2007 capacity for hospital day care shall be increased by 87 percent and a home treatment will be implemented. The previous working method, orientated to treatment setting, will be replaced by an approach specialized in diagnostic groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The Regional Budget could improve the continuity and flexibility of patient care. Service providers become motivated to treat in a way, which with little resource consumption achieves a long lasting health status improvement. For health insurances the Regional Budget is an opportunity to limit cost increases.