Six care coordination approaches in the Medicare Coordinated Care Demonstration contributed to reduced hospitalizations among high-risk patients but did not generate net savings to Medicare, according to a study in Health Affairs.
Four of 11 programs under the Medicare Coordinated Care Demonstration reduced hospitalizations by 8 percent to 33 percent among enrollees who had a high risk of near-term hospitalization. Care coordinators in at least three of these four programs had six common approaches:
1. Supplementing telephone calls to patients with frequent in-person meetings.
2. Occasionally meeting in person with providers.
3. Acting as a communications hub for providers.
4. Delivering evidence-based education to patients.
5. Providing strong medication management.
6. Providing timely and comprehensive transitional care after hospitalizations.
With care management fees, the programs were cost-neutral but did not generate net savings to Medicare, according to the study.
The authors suggest these approaches could reduce hospitalizations and improve patients' lives if incorporated into medical homes, accountable care organizations and other initiatives. The approaches may only save money if the care coordination fees are modest and the organizations create cost-effective methods for delivering the interventions, according to the study.
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Four of 11 programs under the Medicare Coordinated Care Demonstration reduced hospitalizations by 8 percent to 33 percent among enrollees who had a high risk of near-term hospitalization. Care coordinators in at least three of these four programs had six common approaches:
1. Supplementing telephone calls to patients with frequent in-person meetings.
2. Occasionally meeting in person with providers.
3. Acting as a communications hub for providers.
4. Delivering evidence-based education to patients.
5. Providing strong medication management.
6. Providing timely and comprehensive transitional care after hospitalizations.
With care management fees, the programs were cost-neutral but did not generate net savings to Medicare, according to the study.
The authors suggest these approaches could reduce hospitalizations and improve patients' lives if incorporated into medical homes, accountable care organizations and other initiatives. The approaches may only save money if the care coordination fees are modest and the organizations create cost-effective methods for delivering the interventions, according to the study.
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