Germany's disease management program: improving outcomes in congestive heart failure
Kottmair, S.; Frye, C.; Ziegenhagen, D.J.
Health Care Financing Review 27(1): 79-87
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0195-8631 PMID: 17288080 Document Number: 586806
Hospital admissions among patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) are a major contributor to health care costs. A comprehensive disease management program for CHF was developed for private and statutory health insurance companies in order to improve health outcomes and reduce rehospitalization rates and costs. The program comprises care calls, written training material, telemetric monitoring, and health reports. Currently, 909 members from six insurance companies are enrolled. Routine evaluation, based on medical data warehouse software, demonstrates benefits in terms of improved health outcomes and processes of care. Economical evaluation of claims data indicates significant cost savings in a pre/post study design.