Rutgers coalition snags 14.3M to implement managed care across U.S.

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Dr. Jeffrey Brenner‘s work with the Camden coalition to reduce “frequent flyer” emergency department users and provide more coordinated care for the city’s poor has been recognized by publications all over the nation. Now, the federal…

Dr. Jeffrey Brenner‘s work with the Camden coalition to reduce “frequent flyer” emergency department users and provide more coordinated care for the city’s poor has been recognized by publications all over the nation. Now, the federal government is asking for Brenner’s help to implement his model across the country.

Working with Rutgers University’s Center for State Health Policy and nonprofit The Center for Health Care Strategies, the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers received a Health Care Innovation Award of $14.3 million from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The three organizations will work to implement Brenner’s strategies for coordinating care among providers, installing electronic records and using “hot spot” theory to improve care at a lower cost to high-need patients in Allentown, Pa.; Aurora, Colo.; Kansas City, Mo.; and San Diego, Calif.

“The project will engage nearly 2,500 high-cost, high-need Medicaid, Medicare and uninsured patients across the four communities in intensive-care management, projected to achieve savings of $67.7 million for public program enrollees over three years,” said Joel Cantor, director of the Rutgers center, in the award announcement.

Brenner’s model includes using care management teams to not only keep track of a patient’s health needs, but housing, legal, transportation and other social needs.

Rutgers’ role is to provide technical assistance, while the Camden coalition will assist the sites to adopt the model and the Center for Health Care Strategies will work on financing plans like shared savings.