Medical cost-offset following treatment referral for alcohol and other drug use disorders in a group model HMO.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether specialty alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment is associated with reduced subsequent medical care costs. AOD treatment costs and medical costs in a group model health maintenance organization (HMO) were collected for up to 6 years on 1,472 HMO members who were recommended for specialty AOD treatment, and on 738 members without AOD diagnoses or treatment. Addiction Severity Index measures were also obtained from a sample of 293 of those recommended for treatment.

Substance abuse treatment duration for Medicaid versus commercial clients in a health maintenance organization.

Background: As Medicaid clients have come to be enrolled in managed care, concerns have arisen about the ability of private sector systems to meet the needs of enrollees with substance abuse problems.

Objectives: This project describes treatment initiation and duration for Medicaid and commercial substance abuse treatment clients in a large health maintenance organization (HMO).

Research Design: This study was a prospective secondary analysis of information from HMO databases.

Satisfaction and well-being of primary care providers in managed care.

We compared perceptions about the practice environment and the job satisfaction of physician assistants (PAs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and primary care physicians in a large group-model HMO. The data source was a self-administered mail survey (average response rate = 79%). PA/NPs and primary care physicians reported that professional autonomy was not a problem and were satisfied with most aspects of practice in this setting.