The American journal of managed care
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Observational Study
Care coordination in primary care: mapping the territory.
To document the current approaches to care coordination among different types of care systems in Minnesota. ⋯ Although there are large differences in resources and capabilities between large and small care systems, they were not associated with much difference in the approach taken to care coordination. This map of the care coordination territory in Minnesota has the potential to be valuable to researchers and care system leaders for understanding current implementation trends and directing further evaluations.
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Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) lead to cure in more than 95% of recipients; however, payers may limit access to these lifesaving drugs due to high initial cost. Here, the cost-effectiveness of treating HCV with DAAs vs no treatment over a lifetime horizon is evaluated from the perspective of Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC). ⋯ DAA treatment at KPSC is predicted to significantly reduce HCV-related morbidity and mortality, providing an anticipated return on investment in drug costs after 3 years of treatment.
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The collaborative care model integrates mental health care into primary care. In 2017, CMS created new billing codes to reimburse collaborative care. We measured the impact of a program supported by these codes on medical spending. ⋯ Modest spending on collaborative care services to address the behavioral health needs of patients did not increase overall health care costs. This is the first economic study of a collaborative care program supported by the new billing codes.