As organizations and policymakers across the country seek to enhance care management programs for low-income individuals with complex medical and social needs, it is critical to identify which models are effective and are ready to be integrated into the broader health care delivery system. However, relying solely on cost and utilization to assess program effectiveness may overlook other positive impacts, such as improving quality of life, achieving housing stability, or generating savings to other public systems.

This webinar, cosponsored by the Center for Health Care Strategies’ Complex Care Innovation Lab and the National Center for Complex Health and Social Needs (National Center), reviewed the merits and limitations of traditional complex care evaluation approaches, explored new ways to effectively evaluate these programs, and discussed the broader policy implications of evaluating complex care programs. This webinar is made possible by Kaiser Permanente Community Health.

Agenda

I. Introduction and Overview

Speakers: Allison Hamblin, MSPH, Senior Vice President, Center for Health Care Strategies and Natassia Rozario, JD, Associate Counsel and Senior Director, Camden Coalition of Health Care Providers

A. Hamblin and N. Rozario welcomed participants, discussed the purpose of the webinar, and introduced the presenters.

II. Challenges of Using Traditional Evaluation Models for Complex Populations

Speakers: Maria Raven, MD, MPH, MSc, Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, UCSF School of Medicine; and Toyin Ajayi, MD, MPhil, Chief Health Officer, Cityblock Health

M. Raven and T. Ajayi discussed the challenges associated with evaluating complex care models and the importance of integrating non-medical data to more accurately and comprehensively convey person-centered program impact.

III. Rethinking Evaluation Strategies for Complex Populations

Speaker: Allison Hamblin                  

A. Hamblin discussed the benefits and limitations of relying solely on cost and utilization measures to evaluate complex care programs and highlighted important lessons from the field regarding how to interpret evaluations of these programs.

IV. Using a “Research and Development” Framework to Support Complex Care Program Design

Speaker: David Labby, MD, Health Strategy Advisor, Health Share of Oregon

D. Labby discussed a proposed “phased” framework to help guide the development, refinement, and sustainability of programs targeting complex care populations.

V. Q&A Session and Closing Remarks