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PTSD, Mental Health Treatment Utilization, and Cost Estimate Disclaimer

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental-health conditions represent a significant need among Veterans, military service members, and their families. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reports that approximately 6% of U.S. adults experience PTSD during their lifetime, while nationally representative Veteran data have identified higher rates among Veterans. Among Veterans who utilize VA health care, the prevalence of PTSD is substantially higher than among Veterans who do not use VA health care. PTSD may also occur together with depression, anxiety, substance-use disorders, and other mental-health conditions, potentially increasing the need for counseling and supportive services.

For purposes of North America Rehabilitation Counseling (NARCO)'s financial and program planning only, NARCO may use an estimated average of approximately 22 counseling/mental-health visits per participant per year as a planning assumption, based in part on historical VA utilization data showing approximately 22 mental-health outpatient encounters for Veterans in a PTSD diagnostic cohort. This figure is not a clinical requirement, treatment standard, prediction, or guarantee that any individual participant will require or receive 22 visits. Actual utilization may be substantially higher or lower depending upon the participant's diagnosis, severity of symptoms, treatment plan, clinical progress, availability of services, referrals, insurance or governmental program requirements, and the independent professional judgment of the treating clinician.

Any dollar amount associated with the estimated number of visits is likewise a NARCO planning estimate only and should not be interpreted as a guaranteed reimbursement rate, actual market cost, allowable governmental reimbursement, or guaranteed expenditure. For example, if NARCO uses a preliminary planning assumption of $200 per visit, 22 estimated visits would produce a planning estimate of $4,400 per participant per year. This calculation is provided solely for budgeting, forecasting, donations, and program-planning purposes. Actual costs may vary considerably based on provider compensation, facility and administrative expenses, geographic location, insurance or government reimbursement requirements, service type, group versus individual treatment, treatment duration, participant needs, and other operating factors.

Disclaimer: All utilization, visit, and dollar figures presented by NARCO are estimates developed for planning and budgeting purposes and are not guarantees of treatment utilization, reimbursement, revenue, expenses, participant outcomes, or funding. Nothing in these estimates is intended to establish a medical necessity determination or prescribe the number of counseling sessions any individual should receive. Treatment frequency and duration must be determined on an individual basis by appropriately licensed and qualified healthcare professionals in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, professional standards, and the participant's individualized treatment needs. NARCO reserves the right to modify these estimates as additional clinical, operational, reimbursement, and financial data become available.