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Enhancing managed care's role in long-term care: building on the aging network
1Center for Health Care Innovation, California State University Long Beach, USA.
Managed Care Quarterly
|June 3, 1999
Summary
Managed care organizations can better serve diverse older adults by partnering with traditional aging network providers. This collaboration leverages existing expertise in case management, screening, assisted living, and adult day care for improved elder care.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Healthcare Management
- Public Health Policy and Aging Services
Background:
- Medicare managed care organizations are expanding and will increasingly serve older adults with functional impairments and diverse linguistic/cultural needs.
- Traditional aging network providers possess specialized expertise crucial for supporting these vulnerable populations.
- Current integration of the aging network into managed care operations is minimal, largely confined to demonstration projects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight successful collaborative programs between aging network providers and managed care organizations.
- To showcase examples of integrated services including case management, screening, assisted living, and adult day care.
- To provide actionable steps for managed care organizations to effectively utilize aging network expertise.
Main Methods:
- Review and presentation of existing program examples demonstrating successful partnerships.
- Analysis of collaborative models for service delivery in case management, screening, assisted living, and adult day care.
- Identification of strategies for managed care organizations to integrate aging network resources.
Main Results:
- Several program examples illustrate effective collaboration between aging networks and managed care organizations.
- These collaborations successfully address the needs of functionally impaired older adults and those with special linguistic/cultural requirements.
- Specific service areas of successful integration include case management, screening, assisted living, and adult day care.
Conclusions:
- Managed care organizations can significantly enhance their service delivery to diverse older populations by integrating with the aging network.
- Leveraging the established expertise of aging network providers is essential for effective case management and specialized care.
- Strategic steps are needed for managed care organizations to build upon and formalize these valuable partnerships.