December 15, 2010

National Expenditures for Mental Health Services and Substance Abuse Treatment, 1986 - 2005

Researchers with the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reviewed national spending for behavioral health services and medications as part of overall national health spending. They found that the portion attributable to behavioral health has dropped from 9.3% in 1986 to 7.3% in 2005. In 2005, the latest year comparable data is available, behavioral health spending accounted for 7.3% ($135 billion) of the $1.85 trillion spent on all health care services in the U.S.