An evaluation of Washington's Medicaid disease-management program.
In 2002, Washington State Medicaid implemented a disease-management program for clients with diagnoses of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, and diabetes. The program represented a unique attempt to manage disabled clients in a fee-for-services environment, and at its onset, was one of the first statewide programs in the United States. This article reviews the effectiveness of the program based on the results from two independent evaluations. Results of cost-savings measurements and health outcomes are presented for each of the conditions. These results were used to make program changes, which began in 2007.
Lind
Alice
A
Office of Quality and Care Management, Health and Recovery Services Administration, Department of Social and Health Services, Olympia, Washington 98504-5530, USA. lindar@dshs.wa.gov
Kaplan
Louise
L
D002908:Chronic Disease; D019468:Disease Management; D018588:Fee-for-Service Plans; D006801:Humans; D008484:Medicaid; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014481:United States; D014861:Washington