Evaluating the Impact of Assisted Outpatient Treatment on Healthcare Utilization and Medicaid Expenditures in Kentucky

Findings suggest that Kentucky's AOT program is associated with sustained reductions in costly healthcare services and improved system efficiency. Beyond cost outcomes, results underscore the importance of implementing AOT with safeguards that protect self-determination while promoting recovery. This analysis contributes new evidence from a program and region not previously represented in the literature and highlights implications for social workers engaged in balancing client rights, community safety, and recovery-oriented care.