Behavioral Health Care: A Worthwhile Investment?

U.S. employers report that they suffer $24 billion a year in losses due to absenteeism and presenteeism from depression in the workforce, while the cost of substance use disorders is estimated at $100 billion. Behavioral health care benefits may be the answer to reducing these numbers. Health care premiums have been escalating in the past few years, putting increasing pressure on employers to either absorb these costs with depressed profits or find ways to shift some costs to employees. Not only are these costs burdensome, but purchasers of health care benefits are also far from convinced that they are paying for a more valuable product. For example, increased drug costs are just one of several cost drivers, but does increased spending on pharmaceuticals result in healthier workers?