Illinois Health Connect medical director Dr. Margaret Kirkegaard gave a presentation entitled "Safety Net Success: Evaluation of the Illinois Medicaid Medical Home Program" at the Fourth Annual Medical Home Summit in Philadelphia.
Dr. Kirkegaard co-presented with Dr. Meiying Han, an economist for the Washington, D.C.-based Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care.
The Robert Graham Center received a grant from The Commonwealth Fund to research the impact of Illinois Health Connect. The Graham Center analysis indicates that IHC has reduced both hospitalizations and ED visits. Cost analysis demonstrated that from 2006 through 2010 Illinois Health Connect saved the State $531 million compared to anticipated costs.
These savings figures do not include savings for the Aged, Blind and Disabled (ABD) population. An additional $1.5 billion in cost savings is attributable to improved management of the ABD population through the combination of Illinois Health Connect and the disease management program, Your Healthcare Plus, for the period of 2006 through 2010.
This preliminary research underscores the value of the medical home model in cost containment for Medicaid programs. The Robert Graham Center is completing additional analysis on quality outcomes and access to specialty care.
