The state’s Medicaid cost-reduction program saved $31 million on medical services during the 2013-2014 fiscal year, officials said Monday.
The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, which administers Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus, said the Accountable Care Collaborative grossed $100 million, more than double the costs cut last fiscal year.
After accounting for payments to providers and regional care collaborative organizations, the program’s net savings were about $31 million.
“The ACC is changing the way we deliver health care,” said department director Susan E. Birch.
The program, which also aims to improve health, covers 60 percent of Medicaid clients, or about 610,000 people. They receive the regular Medicaid benefit package and also belong to a region organization that coordinates primary care, specialists and other community resources in an effort to prevent duplicated services as well as preventing delayed or inappropriate care.
For example, adults enrolled for more than six months used emergency room services about 8 percent less than those not enrolled. They had 35 percent fewer high-cost imaging services — yet still needed to be re-admitted to hospitals 33 percent fewer times.
Electa Draper: 303-954-1276, edraper@denverpost.com or
