A demonstration program involving the sickest Medicare patients at Massachusetts General Hospital has reduced costs by as much as 7 percent over the first four years, according to a report by Massachusetts General.
The Massachusetts General Care Management Program used nurse case managers to help reduce hospitalizations, ED visits and other costs and improve mortality rates for the sickest 15 percent of Medicare beneficiaries. The case managers serve as liaisons between the patient and the care team, monitor the patient's health needs and create customized healthcare plans.
In 2009, the program was extended for another three years and added about 750 new patients. It has also been expanded to Brigham & Women's Hospital and North Shore Medical Center, also part of Partners Healthcare, and now includes about 8,300 patients at all three sites.
Read the Massachusetts General release on Medicare.
Read more coverage of Medicare demonstrations:
- CMS Launches Innovation Center, 3 New Demonstrations
- AMA Proposes Four ACO Payment Systems in Addition to Shared Savings
- University of Michigan Saves $15M Over 4 Years Due to ACO Demonstration Project
The Massachusetts General Care Management Program used nurse case managers to help reduce hospitalizations, ED visits and other costs and improve mortality rates for the sickest 15 percent of Medicare beneficiaries. The case managers serve as liaisons between the patient and the care team, monitor the patient's health needs and create customized healthcare plans.
In 2009, the program was extended for another three years and added about 750 new patients. It has also been expanded to Brigham & Women's Hospital and North Shore Medical Center, also part of Partners Healthcare, and now includes about 8,300 patients at all three sites.
Read the Massachusetts General release on Medicare.
Read more coverage of Medicare demonstrations:
- CMS Launches Innovation Center, 3 New Demonstrations
- AMA Proposes Four ACO Payment Systems in Addition to Shared Savings
- University of Michigan Saves $15M Over 4 Years Due to ACO Demonstration Project