Variability in care management programs in Medicare ACOs

In this study co-authored by Dr. Maureen Smith and Peter Nordby, investigators surveyed medical directors and clinical leaders in 15 care management programs across the country with the goal of classifying models of care management in Medicare ACOs. They found high variability in multiple domains across programs, and that most programs use cost & utilization measures to determine outcomes with relatively few patient and stakeholder experience measures. Due to the wide variation in structures and processes, classification proved challenging, and a wider range of outcomes is needed to better understand the best processes to achieve those outcomes and the value of the case management programs.