title: Program for uninsured cuts ED visits, admissions.
abstract: MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland has saved about $18 per member a month by enrolling uninsured patients in an HMO-like system developed by the health system. Patients pay on a sliding scale based on their income. Uninsured patients are signed up for the program when they come to the emergency department and cannot have a clinic visit unless they enroll. The hospital embeds case managers in the health system's clinic to work with uninsured patients to help them avoid emergency department visits and hospitalizations.
mesh_terms: D019090:Case Management / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000379:methods; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009820:Ohio; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends