Evaluation of Medicare Health Support chronic disease pilot program
Cromwell, J.; McCall, N.; Burton, J.
Health Care Financing Review 30(1): 47-60
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 0195-8631 PMID: 19040173 Document Number: 620314
The Medicare Program is conducting a randomized trial of care management services among fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries called the Medicare Health Support (MHS) pilot program. Eight disease management (DM) companies have contracted with CMS to improve clinical quality, increase beneficiary and provider satisfaction, and achieve targeted savings for chronically ill Medicare FFS beneficiaries. In this article, we present 6-month intervention results on beneficiary selection and participation rates, mortality rates, trends in hospitalizations, and success in achieving Medicare cost savings. Results to date indicate limited success in achieving Medicare cost savings or reducing acute care utilization.