 Disease Management
Since 1995 a number of states have developed and implemented Disease Management Programs. Disease management programs emphasize treatment of patients with chronic disease such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS. Disease Management programs target the most costly chronic conditions, like asthma, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Given that these alone account for the lion's share of Medicaid expenditures-some estimates go as high as 80 percent-efforts to rein in costs make sense.
Disease Management Programs throughout the states are not uniform; differences among Disease Management Programs include disease coverage, program administration, and the type of service and professionals offered to patients.
As of Jan. 2005, 25 states have implemented Disease Management Programs: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia. |
