Chronic Care Management

People with chronic illness account for a greater proportion of expenditures than other Medicaid enrollees.  For instance, people with disabilities make up only 14% of Medicaid enrollment, but account for 42% of Medicaid costs.³²

Care management for people with chronic illness has been shown to reduce spending and improve quality of care.  Your state Medicaid program can identify and monitor chronic conditions, and may consider coordinated care options to increase quality of care and reduce costs.  

The elderly and disabled population that is dually eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare (dual eligibles) has complex health care needs and medical costs that are much higher than other Medicaid populations.  Exploring options such as Special Needs Plans (SNPs) or other managed care for these populations may help to improve quality, and reduce costs.

For more information, see:  

• Special Needs Plans (SNPs):  A Primer.  Community Catalyst, forthcoming at Community Catalyst.
• The National Chronic Care Consortium at http://www.nccconline.org/
• Perlman, Sylvia B. and Richard H. Dougherty.  State Behavioral Health Innovations: Disseminating Promising Practices.  The Commonwealth Fund, August 2006.  Online at http://www.commonwealthfund.org/usr_doc/Perlman_statebehavioralhltinnovations_945.pdf?section

³² Medicaid:  A Primer.  Kaiser, March 2007.