Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is an evidence-based practice proven to improve outcomes for people with severe mental illness. Research shows that ACT reduces hospitalizations and incarceration, increases housing stability, and improves quality of life for people with the most severe symptoms of mental illness. ACT utilizes a multi-disciplinary, community-based team of medical, behavioral health, and rehabilitation professionals who work together to meet the needs of the individuals that they serve. The Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services’ (DBHDS) assessment of data indicated ACT services resulted in lower hospitalization and incarceration rates for individuals being served, and substantial associated cost reductions. Some of the main findings include:

• The average cost per individual served by ACT teams across the Commonwealth in FY 2022 was $15,453, representing a consistent trend with the previous fiscal year.

• State hospitalization usage for all ACT served individuals admitted in FY 2020 was reduced by 42 percent, representing a cost avoidance of $11.5 million for this population.

• All new FY 2020 ACT-served individuals accounted for 24,091 state hospital bed days in the two years prior to their ACT admission, and 13,873 in the two years post admission.

• Across the FY 2016 through FY 2020 cohorts, the ACT program contributed to an overall cost avoidance of $55.1 million in state hospital costs in the two years following initiation of ACT services.

• Local psychiatric hospitalization uses for all ACT-served individuals admitted in FY 2020 had a 43 percent reduction, which represents a cost avoidance of $2.9 million.

• All new FY 2020 ACT-served individuals accounted for 8,657 local hospital psychiatric bed days in the two years prior to ACT admission, and 4,922 in the two years post admission.