Integrated Care to Improve Outcomes for Complex Patients

Multiple chronic conditions (MCC) are widely recognized as the U.S. public health challenge of the 21st century. These physical and behavioral health conditions take a large toll on those suffering from the diseases, including many who are publicly insured, as well as caregivers and society. While evidence-based integrated care models can improve outcomes for individuals with MCC, such models have not yet been widely implemented. Insurance providers/payers have innovative system features that can be used to deploy these models; however, the investigators do not yet know which of these features can best help to improve outcomes for individuals with MCC in general or high-need subgroups in particular. As a result, patients lack information to make important decisions about their health and health care, and system-level decision makers face ongoing challenges in effectively and efficiently supporting those with MCC. This real-world study will provide useful information about available options for supporting individuals with MCC. Building on existing integrated care efforts, the investigators will enroll 1,662 adults with MCC at risk for repeated hospitalizations and assess the impact of three payer-led options (High-Touch, High-Tech, Usual Care) on patient-centered outcomes, namely patient activation in health care, health status, and subsequent re-hospitalization. The investigators will also determine which option works best for whom under what circumstances by gathering information directly from individuals with MCC through self-report questionnaires, health care use data, and interviews.