Mental Illness Recovery Center, Inc. Saves Over 3.1 Million Dollars in Hospital Charges

COLUMBIA, SC – The Mental Illness Recovery Center, Inc. (MIRCI) completed a pre and post study of inpatient hospitalization and emergency department use by the clients of MIRCI between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2013 using a data system managed by The Department of Revenue and Fiscal Affairs, (RFA). Below are the findings.

Utilization of Hospital Services:

For the 212 clients linked to the RFA general hospital data system:

• The total number of inpatient hospitalizations for the cohort of 212 clients for the year subsequent to beginning MIRCI services dropped by almost 50% from the year preceding entry into MIRCI.
• Considering Mental Illness/SA as the reason for the hospitalization, the number of hospitalizations dropped by 71%, pre- to post-entry into MIRCI.
• As in past analyses, hospitalizations for physical illness and accidents actually increased, from 26 (pre-) to 32 (post-). This type of change is not unexpected because of variability introduced by small numbers; in this case, one client with five hospitalizations post-MIRCI explains almost the entire increase.
• A second finding for inpatient hospitalizations is that the intensity of services required when hospitalization was needed (measured by number of days in the hospital) dropped by 44% from an average of 13.1 days pre-MIRCI to 7.4 days post-MIRCI.
• The combination of decreases in numbers of hospitalizations and length of stay resulted in a significant drop in inpatient charges of $2,233,390, a 58% drop.
• The number of emergency department visits dropped by 39% once the clients enrolled in MIRCI, and emergency department visits where mental illness was the reason for the visit dropped even more, by 61%. Unlike inpatient hospitalizations, ED visits for physical illness dropped by 30% and for injuries by 33%. Schizophrenic disorder was the most common mental illness reason for visiting the ED for a mental illness; these visits dropped by 62%.

For the 207 clients linked to the RFA psychiatric specialty hospital database:

• The number of inpatient hospitalizations dropped by 86% in the year following enrollment, from 29 to 4, virtually containing the use of inpatient services by good outpatient management.
• Considering all hospital services combined (inpatient general, inpatient specialty and emergency department visits), total charges for services in the year following MIRCI enrollment were $3,171,107 less than charges for services in the year prior to MIRCI enrollment.

The results of pre and post hospital and emergency department use analysis show substantial observed decreases once clients are assisted by MIRCI programs. Decreases are most dramatic for diagnoses of mental illness and substance abuse but are also reflected in the declining use of hospital emergency departments, even for physical illness. MIRCI case management offers emphasis on appropriate outpatient psychiatric services, stability in medication adherence, life skills, and housing. The significance of their success is borne out in the substantial drop in expensive service utilization expressed in avoided hospital charges of over 3.1 million dollars.

About MIRCI

MIRCI – The Mental Illness Recovery Center, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to assist individuals with mental illness to recover in the areas of their lives impacted by their illness through housing, behavioral healthcare, and assistance with obtaining and managing their disability income.