Southwest Washington reports
early success in health care integration
Preliminary
data show encouraging results in the first year of fully integrated managed
care in Southwest Washington.
Research and data
analysts at the Department of Social & Health Services are finding evidence
that integrated financing for physical and behavioral health services can have
positive results.
Of special note are statistically significant lower rates of homelessness and
incarceration as compared to statewide data.
Since the April
2016 launch of fully integrated managed care for Apple Health (Medicaid)
clients in Clark and Skamania counties, the region reports improved performance
in 10 of 19 measures.
Washington State
Medicaid Director MaryAnne Lindeblad responded that this is an exciting time
for everyone involved in health care transformation.
“These results are
the first real evidence that the transformation is making a significant,
palpable difference in the lives of those we serve,”
Lindeblad said, “It’s working because teams are laser-focused
on the goal: providing all Washingtonians equal access to whole-person care,
improving the overall health of our communities, and using state resources more
efficiently.”
The measures track four key areas: access to care, quality of care, coordination of care, utilization, and social outcomes (homelessness, employment, and criminal justice involvement). Report highlights:
- The Southwest Washington region is performing better than non-integrated regions in 10 of 19 measures, including percent homeless, percent arrested, follow-up after emergency department visit for alcohol or drug dependence after both seven and 30 days, and antidepressant medication management.
- The Southwest Washington region is performing as well as non-integrated regions in eight measures.
-
Metrics showed statistically significant
improvement for adult Medicaid beneficiaries residing in the region for the following:
- Adults' Access to Preventive/Ambulatory Health
Services
- Cervical Cancer Screening
- Chlamydia Screening in Women
- Comprehensive Diabetes Care - Hemoglobin A1c
Testing
- Antidepressant Medication Management -
Continuation Phase Treatment
- Percent Homeless
- Percent Arrested
For more information, see the presentation Evaluation
of fully integrated managed care in Southwest Washington - preliminary
first-year findings.
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