Effective case management in managed mental health care: conditions, methods and outcomes

Case management methods were utilized after changing from a "provider network" to a "staff model" mental health center serving approximately 30,000 HMO enrollees. This change allowed for tighter systems and case management, interdisciplinary coordination, longitudinal evaluation of clients and measures of quality assurance, staff productivity and cost savings. Effective case management conditions and methods were implemented that ensured immediate accessibility, broad-ranging evaluation and triage, use of both psychiatric and operational diagnosis, proper matching of client with therapist, group, and setting; coordination of the roles of various support systems and use of proven treatment and case management methods. The change to this staff model case management system resulted in 38.8% cost savings while delivering high-quality, accessible service.