The Minnesota model of subacute care.

HealthPartners, a nonprofit managed care organization in Minneapolis, Minn., has developed an integrated system of care for seniors in clinics, hospitals, and subacute care centers. The organization contracts for subacute care with a few skilled nursing facilities distributed throughout the area.

Post-hospital sub-acute care: an example of a managed care model.

Objective: This article describes Transitional Care Centers (TCC), an innovative sub-acute care program developed by a large managed care organization (HealthPartners in Minnesota) in partnership with five area nursing homes. The purpose of the TCC is to promote continuity of care for frail older members covered under a TEFRA risk contract.

Design: This is a retrospective study of the experiences and outcomes of enrollees who received TCC compared with a like group of enrollees who received customary continuity care through contract services.