Care Model for the ‘Medically Complex’ Improves Functioning, Lowers Costs
<p>An approach to treating patients who require a range of medical, behavioral, and social services has been shown to reduce health care costs by as much as 20 percent, improve physical and mental functioning, and reduce depressive symptoms, according to new research published by the Commonwealth Fund.</p><p>Developed by the Pacific Business Group on Health (PBGH), the Intensive Outpatient Care Program was originally piloted by Boeing for 700 of its employees. It has since been implemented at 23 primary care practice sites throughout Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, and Washington. </p>
<p>The care management model places coordinators in physician practices to ensure patients get the primary, specialty, and ancillary services they need to stay well. Coordinators also provide self-management tools and linkages to behavioral, psychosocial, and community services.</p>
<p>According to lead author Kristof Stremikis, PBGH’s associate director for policy, PBGH now plans to provide training in the approach to 21 health systems serving 250,000 Medicare beneficiaries.</p>