Inter-Professional Care Coordination: Looking to the Future Susan C. Reinhard, RN, PhD, FAAN Senior Vice President AARP Public Policy Institute May 24,

Inter-Professional Care Coordination: Looking to the Future

Susan C. Reinhard, RN, PhD, FAAN

Senior Vice PresidentAARP Public Policy Institute

May 24, 2011

Purpose

• Provide context for panel discussions

• Highlight consumers’ view on why inter-professional care coordination is needed

• Review evidence on care coordination as background for why transitional care is the focus now

• Summarize public policy opportunities provided in ACA

Context: Chronic Conditions

Finally, the US and developed countries are talking about chronic conditions!

Why?

What can we/professionals do?

Inter-professional Care Coordination has become the promise for the future

WHY? Because Many Older Americans Have Multiple Chronic Conditions

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Ages 50-64 Ages 65-74 Ages 75-84 Ages 85+

1 Chronic Condition 2-4 Chronic Conditions 5+ Chronic Conditions

Source: AARP. “Beyond 50.09: Chronic Care: A Call to Action for Health Reform.” Washington, DC. 2009.

Health Spending Increases with the

Number of Chronic Illnesses

$1,425

$3,994$5,411

$7,382

$10,293

$15,937

$0

$2,000

$4,000

$6,000

$8,000

$10,000

$12,000

$14,000

$16,000

Ave

rag

e A

nn

ual

Sp

end

ing

fo

r A

du

lts

50+

0 1 2 3 4 5

Number of Chronic Conditions


Health Care Spending for Older Americans with Selected Chronic Conditions is Higher Than Average

$6,440

$37,236

$20,170

$15,268 $14,814 $14,422$13,437

$12,100

$0

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

$30,000

$35,000

$40,000

Ave

rag

e H

ealt

h C

are

Sp

end

ing

fo

r A

du

lts

50+

NationalAverage

KidneyDisease

CongestiveHeart

Failure

Cancer HeartDisease

Stroke Arthritis Diabetes


Many Chronic Conditions are on the Rise among Medicare Beneficiaries 65+

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

High BloodPressure

HighCholesterol

Diabetes Cancer MentalIllness

BackProblems

1997 2006


23%

68%

77%

32%

Beneficiaries Expenditures

23% of Medicare beneficiaries with 5+ chronic conditions account for 68% of Medicare spending

Anderson, GF. “Medicare and Chronic Conditions”. New Eng J Med. 353;3:305 (Jul 21, 2005).

5+ Chronic Conditions

< 5 Chronic Conditions

AARP Public Policy Institute

Top Chronic Conditions for Medicare 65+ Based on Aggregate Cost, 2006

Chronic Condition

Parts A & BTotal Cost

Change (1997-2006)

Parts A & B Cost/Case

Change (1997-2006)

Hypertension $163.2 B 81% $10,653 21%

Heart Disease (other)

$130.4 B 65% $15,358 24%

Cholesterol $104.3 B 52% $8,820 36%

Arrhythmias $74.9 B 37% $19,509 24%

Diabetes $74.6 B 37% $12,643 20%

CHF $72.2 B 36% $25,841 31%

Mental Conditions

$71.3 B 36% $19,624 26%

COPD $63.9 B 32% $18,511 27%

Delivery System Problems

• Health care systems (public and private) need improvement, especially chronic care delivery

• Barriers to improvements in care for people with chronic conditions include:– Fragmented care delivery, – Poor transitions across settings, and – Poorly aligned payment incentives that fail to

recognize the value of better integration of services

Delivery System Problems

• Medicare is not perfect and needs improvement

• Care is not well coordinated, particularly for those with chronic conditions

• Fee-For-Service payments encourage over utilization of services

AARP Public Policy Institute Research on Improving Care Coordination and Transitions

Beyond 50.09 Chronic Care: A Call to Action for Health Reform--Consumers’ Views• Data Analysis of Care Coordination for Chronic

Conditions• Focus Groups of patients and caregivers with

transitions• National Opinion Surveys

– Patients with chronic conditions and transitions– Caregivers of patients with chronic conditions and

transitions• Promising Models of Chronic Care Coordination

– Transitional Care Model - Mary Naylor– Care Transitions Intervention - Eric Coleman– Guided Care (medical home w/ transitional care) – Chad Boult

Patients Report Problems with TransitionsThe most frequently reported issues around transitions between hospitals (and other health care facilities) and home were:

– Loss of mobility and/or independence– Uncertain expectations for recovery and/or

prognosis– Pain– Anxiety– Not remembering their clinician’s

instructions– Feeling abandoned


Caregivers Report Problems with TransitionsThe most frequently reported issues around transitions between hospitals (and other health care facilities) and home were:

– Finding resources, such as medical equipment and services

– Arranging for assistance in and around the home, both paid and unpaid

– Communication with doctors and other health professionals

– Finances/affordability


Chronic Care Coordination

Based on these findings, AARP advanced bipartisan legislation in both houses (rare)

Medicare Transitional Care Act—components incorporated into ACA—one of AARP’s top 6 “asks”

Advocacy from N3C and others very successful!

Source: National Coalition on Care Coordination (N3C)

N3C Definition of Care Coordination

Policy Brief: Implementing Care Coordination in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: “Care coordination” is a person-centered, assessment-based, interdisciplinary approach to integrating health care and social support services in a cost-effective manner in which an individual’s needs and preferences are assessed, a comprehensive care plan is developed, and services are managed and monitored by an evidence-based process which typically involves a designated lead care coordinator.”

Source: National Coalition on Care Coordination (N3C)

Evidence: Medicare Coordinated Care Efforts

Since 1999, Medicare has tested more than 30 chronic care programs involving more than 300,000 traditional Medicare beneficiaries.

– To name a few, these programs have included Medicare Health Support (also known as the Chronic Care Improvement Program),

– The Medicare Coordinated Care Demonstration, – Care Management for High-Cost Beneficiaries

and – The Physician Group Practice Demonstration

Source: Bott DM, Kapp MC, Johnson LB, Magno LM. “Disease management for chronically ill beneficiaries in traditional Medicare.” Health Affairs (2009);28(1):86-98.

Evidence: Medicare Coordinated Care Efforts• Final evaluations on 20 Medicare

Coordinated Care demonstrations found only three had improved quality without substantially increasing Medicare spending, net of program fees.

• Interim assessments of 15 other programs suggest that only four have been able to cover their fees and approximately breakeven.

Source: Bott DM, Kapp MC, Johnson LB, Magno LM. “Disease management for chronically ill beneficiaries in traditional Medicare.” Health Affairs (2009);28(1):86-98.

Medicare Coordinated Care Efforts

An exhaustive survey (Boult, 2009) of successful models of comprehensive health care delivery that have shown potential to improve the quality, efficiency and outcomes of care for chronically ill older persons found that 15 models, including, among others, transitional care, have improved at least one outcome.

Medicare Coordinated Care Efforts

In particular, studies (JAMA, 2009) suggest that a number of elements are important for the success of chronic care coordination programs, including:

– Targeting high cost patients who are at high risk for hospitalization;

– Frequent in-person contact with a health professional (at least once per month);

– Teaching patients how to take their medications;– Strong care coordinator ties to primary care practitioners

(i.e., care coordinators co-located with physicians and each physician’s patients assigned to a single coordinator);

– Care coordinators with timely information about hospitalizations and discharges; and

– Financial incentives to encourage cooperation and collaboration by physicians and other clinicians.

Transitional Care Research

Focus on Transitional Care has become a strong focus of care coordination because:

• Evidence-based research has shown that Transitional Care Services can smooth transitions across care setting, improve care coordination, and reduce costs for high risk patients.

• Transitional Care Services can also be easily incorporated into larger health care delivery system and payment reforms.

Source: Brown, Randall. (Brown, 2009) “The Promise of Care Coordination: Models that Decrease Hospitalizations and Improve Outcomes for Medicare Beneficiaries with Chronic Illnesses.” A Report Commissioned by the National Coalition on Care Coordination, March 2009.

Transitional Care Research

Some key elements of effective Transitional Care Services:

– coordinating early face-to-face contact with patients and families while still in the hospital,

– improving discharge planning by using check lists and patient education tools,

– implementing early follow-up after discharge with in-person home visits,

– performing comprehensive assessment of the patient’s health status, clinical needs, home environment, and social support network,

– developing a care plan, – educating and assisting patients and caregivers about how to

navigate the health care system, find resources and obtain community and supportive services, such as meals-on-wheels and Aging and Disability Resource Centers, and

– following-up to monitor, provide oversight and care coordination, as needed, for up to 90 days.

Source: Brown, Randall. (Brown, 2009) “The Promise of Care Coordination: Models that Decrease Hospitalizations and Improve Outcomes for Medicare Beneficiaries with Chronic Illnesses.” A Report Commissioned by the National Coalition on Care Coordination, March 2009.

National Attention to Chronic Care• ACA has multiple policy tools to change the way people with

chronic conditions get better care, and many involve inter-professional care coordination

• CMS leadership offers fresh, strong, collaborative approach

– “Discovery of duals” by top leaders• 45% of Medicaid spending• 25% of Medicare spending

– Acknowledgement of family caregivers in Congress and CMS

– CMS officials working together to develop integrated RFPs that bring primary, acute, behavioral and LTC together

Payment Reforms that Support Care Transitions and Coordination• Hospital Readmission Reduce Incentives (§

3025)– Penalties for avoidable readmissions (the “stick”)

• Accountable Care Organizations (§ 3022)– Medicare Shared Savings Program– Provider bonuses for saving money and improving quality

• National Payment Bundling Pilot (§ 3023)– Bundled payment for episodes of care – Physicians, acute hospitals and post-acute care providers

Medicare Payment Reforms that Support Care Transitions and CoordinationAvoidable Readmission Penalty (§ 3025)

– Incentive to improve care transitions and reduce avoidable readmissions

– Reduced Medicare DRG payments by 1%, rising to 3%

– For certain avoidable readmissions exceeding a threshold (TBD)

– 3 Target conditions TBD starting in FY 2012, 7 in 2015

– Readmission window TBD (ie, 30 days post discharge)

– Hospital-specific readmission rates will be published on Medicare Hospital Compare website

– Expand to skilled nursing homes and HH Agencies

Medicare Innovations to Improve Care Transitions and Coordination

The “Carrots”• Medicare Community-Based Care Transitions

Program• Medicare Independence at Home Demonstration• CMS Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation• Patient-Centered Medical Home Demonstration• Medicaid Health Homes for Chronic Conditions• Community Health Teams for Medical Homes• Workforce Improvements that support Transitional

Care

See PPI Fact Sheet: Health Reform Initiatives to Improve Care Coordination and Transitional Care for Chronic Conditions

Innovations to Improve Care Transitions and Coordination

Community-Based Care Transitions Program (§ 3026)– Hospitals with high Medicare readmission rates,

applications accepted as of April 12, 2011– Partner with Community-based

organizations– Preference for medically underserved areas,

small communities, rural areas and AOA programs.

– Targeting high risk fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries (many likely to have LTC needs, duals)• Risk score• Cognitive impairment, depression, multiple

readmissions, other factors (TBD)


Community-Based Care Transitions Program (§ 3026) continued

– Services must include at least one of 5 interventions• Arranging post-discharge services• Providing self-management support (or

caregiver support)• Conducting medication management review

– Funding of $500 million over 5 years

– CMS will have authority to expand the program if it will reduce Medicare spending without reducing

quality


Independence at Home Demonstration (§ 3024)– Starting in 2012 (or sooner), funding of $5 million/5 years– House Calls to help Medicare beneficiaries remain at

home• Medical Practices (MDs and Nurse practitioners) must have

experience delivering home-based primary care, available 24 x 7

• Target Medicare Beneficiaries with Multiple Chronic Illnesses– 2 or more chronic conditions; 2 or more functional dependencies

(ADLs)– Hospitalized in past 12 months (non-elective)– Rehab therapy in past 12 months– Voluntary enrollment of up to 10,000 beneficiaries

– Bonus for savings exceeding 5%


CMS Center for Innovation

• Testing promising models for improving chronic care coordination

• Funding of $1 billion per year for 10 years• Budget neutrality requirement waived during

testing• Authority to expand any model

– Reduces cost but not quality– Increases quality but not cost


Patient-Centered Medical Home Demonstration

– Addressing needs of high-risk Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions

– Home health providers and interdisciplinary teams provide chronic care management to Medicare beneficiaries

– Geriatric assessments and comprehensive care plans to coordinate care

Medicaid Innovations to Improve Care Transitions and Coordination

Medicaid Health Homes for Chronic Conditions (§ 2703)– Also known as Medical Homes– State Medicaid Option

• Targets high-risk Medicaid beneficiaries– 2 chronic conditions or– 1 existing chronic condition plus risk of 1 or

more additional or– Serious mental illness

• Services– Enhanced integration and coordination of primary care,

acute care, behavioral care, and long term care– Care management, transitional care, community

support services

Medicaid Innovations to Improve Care Transitions and CoordinationMedicaid Health Homes for Chronic Conditions

(cont)

• Funding– Planning grants starting in 2011, rolling– CMS will base approval on Letter to State Medicaid

Directors, Nov 16, 2010, and subsequent regulations– Matching funds totaling up to $25 million ($500,000 each?)– Over 20 states have expressed interest in planning grants

• Conditions• During first 2 years, 90% federal matching funds for Health

Home services– States must track avoidable readmissions– Estimate savings from care coordination– Report lessons learned

Innovations to Improve All Care Transitions and Coordination

Community Health Teams (§ 3502)• Interdisciplinary teams contract with Medical

Homes– Collaborate with community support services– Teams must be designated by states or Indian

tribes– Chronic care coordination, discharge planning,

transitional care, medication therapy management

(§ 3503), mental health referrals, 24 x 7 availability

– HHS grants: ACA does not authorize funding but HHS has indicated funding will be available

• Teams must become self-sustaining in 3 years• Targets patients with chronic conditions regardless of

payer type (Medicare, Medicaid, private)

Duals

• CMS RFP on duals: $1 million per state to 15 states, including New York, to support design

• Inter-professional care coordination critical

• Person-centered models that integrate the full range of acute, behavioral health and long-trm supports and services

• Does not prescribe managed care per se---CMS open to innovative models

Selected Workforce Improvements

Key workforce improvement programs authorized under ACA include (funding is pending for several of these initiatives):

• establishment of a National Health Care Workforce Commission to review projected workforce needs (ACA § 5101);

• training grants in primary care to educate students in team-based approaches to care, including patient-centered medical homes (ACA § 5301);

Resources

• AARP Public Policy Institute– Health Reform Legislation – Key Facts

• www.AARP.Org• Center to Champion Nursing in America

– http://championnursing.org/

• White House / HHS Health Reform Information– www.HealthCare.Gov

• Medicare – www.Medicare.Gov– www.CMS.Gov

http://www.aarp.org/

http://www.medicare.gov/

Inter-Professional Care Coordination• Thank you!• Questions?• Susan C. Reinhard, RN, PhD

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Inter-Professional Care Coordination: Looking to the Future Susan C. Reinhard, RN, PhD, FAAN Senior Vice President AARP Public Policy Institute May 24,