Synthesis of Findings on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment in Five States.

Assesses whether states faced challenges in implementing Medicaid managed care for people with substance abuse and mental health problems, including people who are severely and chronically ill, and whether programs met the needs of these groups. Finds that all five states were able to implement and sustain their programs, although two made modifications to the design along the way. In terms of implementation, notes that whether a model fits a state's unique environment and allows people who need treatment to obtain it is more important than whether the model used is a carve-in or carve-out one. Overall, Medicaid managed behavioral health care solved some problems, created news ones, and left some issues unchanged.