Managed health care services for people with mental retardation: impact on inpatient utilization

All admissions of people with mental retardation to a community hospital during one year were examined to determine the effects of a managed-care model on selected outcome variables. Hospitalization outcomes for patients receiving health care services through the program (care coordination group) were compared to those not enrolled (usual care group). Patients in the care coordination group were found to have shorter hospital stays, when adjusted for diagnosis-related groups; fewer readmissions; and were less severely ill upon admission. Cost data were extrapolated to show that costs of care coordination activities were partially offset by reductions in inpatient utilization.