Peer‐staffed crisis respite program effective alternative to hospitalization

The implementation of peer-staffed crisis respite services to divert individuals from hospitalization can achieve savings in Medicaid expenditures and reduce reliance on hospital services, according to new research published online in Psychological Services in Advance. The study, “The Effectiveness of a Peer-Staffed Crisis Respite Program as an Alternative to Hospitalization,” examined whether peer-staffed crisis respite centers implemented in New York City in 2013 helped to reduce emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalization and Medicaid expenditures for Medicaid beneficiaries. The environment and services offered in peer-staffed crisis respites are distinct from ED and hospital care. Unlike locked units of hospitals, crisis respites offer a voluntary, safe and homelike environment where trained peer staff provide 24-hour support to individuals experiencing psychiatric crises, researchers stated. “When people with serious mental illness have a crisis in their lives, often their only option for help is an emergency room or a hospital,” Jonathan Brown, Ph.D., director of health policy assessment and area director for behavioral health at See Peer page 2