Cost-effectiveness of case management: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Health Economics
• Patient Care Management

Background:

• Aging and multimorbid populations necessitate effective healthcare navigation.
• Complex patient care systems require efficient support mechanisms.
• The cost-effectiveness of case management has not been systematically reviewed until now.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize studies on the cost-effectiveness of case management.
• To evaluate the economic impact of case management interventions in complex care settings.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and CINAHL Plus.
• Studies were identified using keywords related to case management, effectiveness, and costs.
• Methodological quality was assessed using the Consensus Health Economic Criteria list.

Main Results:

• Out of 29 studies, 6 showed case management to be more effective and less costly.
• 17 studies indicated case management was more effective but also more costly.
• 3 studies found case management to be less effective and more costly, while 2 were less effective and less costly.

Conclusions:

• Case management is a promising approach for supporting patients with complex care needs.
• Many studies demonstrate adequate quality and cost-effective or cost-saving outcomes.
• Further research is needed to identify the most cost-effective case management strategies due to high variability.