• R John Sawyer, Carolina Pereira Osorio, Sakshi Sharma, and Emily Brickell.
• 1514 Jefferson Hwy, New Orleans, LA 70121. Email: robert.sawyer@ochsner.org.
• Am J Manag Care. 2024 Aug 1; 30 (8): 353358353-358.

ObjectivesTo examine a 12-month dementia care management program's effect on health care cost, utilization, and overall return on investment in a Medicare managed care population.Study DesignPre-post analysis of participants (n = 121) enrolled in Ochsner's Care Ecosystem program from 2019 through 2021 compared with propensity-matched controls (n = 121). The primary outcome comparison was total cost of care. Secondary outcomes included components of total cost of care (eg, inpatient, outpatient, emergency department [ED] costs), health care utilization (eg, number of ED visits), and differences in Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) risk scores.MethodsDifference-in-differences analyses were conducted from baseline through 12 months comparing various financial metrics and utilization between groups.ResultsCare Ecosystem participants had significantly lower total cost of care at 12 months, mean savings of $475.80 per member per month compared with controls. Care Ecosystem participants had fewer ED, outpatient, and professional visits. HCC risk scores were also better relative to matched controls.ConclusionsA collaborative dementia care program demonstrated significant financial benefit in a managed Medicare population.

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