Abstract
In today's complex private health care market, employers have varied preferences for particular features of behavioral health products such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Factors that may influence these preferences include establishment size, type of organization, industry, workplace substance abuse regulations, and structure of health insurance benefits. This study of 103 large employer purchasers from a single managed behavioral health care organization investigated the impact of such variables on the EAP features that employers select to provide to workers and their families. Findings indicate that for this group of employers, preferences for the type, and delivery mode of EAP counseling services are fairly universal, whereas number of sessions provided and choices for EAP-provided worksite activities are much more varied and may be more reflective of the diverse characteristics, organizational missions, and workplace culture found among larger employers in the United States.