Dane County Pilot Project for Mental Health/AODA Outcomes

Across the country, and even here in Dane County, access to health care remains a challenge.  Health care providers, particularly those serving the uninsured and Medicaid populations, are under pressure to collect and report data about the care they provide to their patients.  The administrative burden of these data efforts does not reveal any benefit to patients, but does shrink the resources and time available to deliver care.  Despite apparent advances in coverage for at-risk patients (e.g., the Affordable Care Act), state budget debates have transformed Medicaid funding into a target.  And which patient populations are most at risk to fill these budget deficits?  Mental health and substance abuse programs.  Simply put, these programs are under attack as states face their fiscal crises.  Mental health providers are under an ever-expanding burden to report data to states in the face of ever-declining reimbursements and a potential collapse in the care systems that support all of these at-risk patients.

 

Acutely aware of the current health care environment, a small coalition of mental health and substance abuse providers in Dane County have agreed to participate in a pilot project designed to enhance their ability to deliver accountable, cost effective services to their patients.  Their goal is simple--improve the lives of individuals and families struggling with mental health and/or substance abuse issues.  Theses providers have come together to address the need for accountable care—increased quality + decreased costs.  In partnership with Forward Health Group (FHG), a Madison-based health care measurement company, the providers will track the patient outcomes that matter to these at-risk populations.  Using FHG’s Population Manager® platform, providers will proactively measure, track, and report their patient populations.  The providers hope to demonstrate that they “moved the needle” on mental health process and outcomes measures.

 

The coalition is led by Amy Mosher-Garvey, co-owner ,OPEN DOOR Center of Change, LLC and Norman Briggs, Director of AODA Services, ARC Community Services, Inc.  Forward Health Group is donating software licenses to the coalition as part of this demonstration.