Friday, February 13, 2004

The Impact of Managed Care: Comparison of Case Rate and Fee-for-Service Financing for Persons With Severe Mental Illness
Article in Drug Benefits Trends at Medscape - "Changes in treatment outcomes were examined using 4.5 years of data from 2 groups of severely mentally ill (SMI) patients—219 patients participating in the Case Rate Pilot (CRP) project and 219 in a fee-for-service program—whose behavioral care was publicly funded. These SMI patients were served by 6 community mental health centers in Ohio. Treatment outcomes were statistically significantly worse for patients in the CRP project. Outcomes of both groups improved after the CRP project was discontinued. Results of this study raise concerns about the desirability of capitation or capitation-like financing mechanisms for publicly funded SMI patients and, in particular, its long-term effect on illness recovery." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Operationalizing the North Carolina State Plan
Adobe Acrobat version of an internal staff document made available via the Open Minds web site - "State fiscal year 2003-2004 calls for the completion of the operational detail with extensive attention to system transition. Specific outcomes and major product deliverables have been articulated. The following outlines the process to initiate operationalization of the Mental Health State Plan. These steps are the business rules or guidelines for plan implementation. They are created to provide order to the process and help the leadership of the Division of MH/DD/SA and other Divisions within the Department to meets its goal of transitioning the design and structure of the system through discrete operational developments which are tasks, activities and deliverables..."