The contrasting careers of two structural types of CMHCs.

Changes in funding, clientele, and services from 1971 to 1980 were examined cross sectionally and with cohorts for two types of CMHCs that differ in their structure for providing inpatient service. Inpatient provider CMHCs grew in revenues and shifted from reliance on federal funds to revenues from services and states. Inpatient-affiliated CMHCs fell in revenues (in constant dollars) and changed little in their proportional reliance on federal dollars. Inpatient provider CMHCs averaged more additions and episodes of care than inpatient-affiliated CMHCs. Inpatient-affiliated CMHCs grew more from 1971 to 1976, but from 1976 to 1980 inpatient provider CMHCs grew, while inpatient-affiliated CMHCs dropped or grew less. The relatively poor final showing of inpatient-affiliated CMHCs parallels findings with total revenues.