Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107477

Melanie Matney, MHA, Richland Care, Palmetto Health, 111 Doctor's Circle, Columbia, SC 29203, 803-296-2251, melanie.matney@palmettohealth.org

Richland Care is a coordinated healthcare delivery system that serves uninsured persons with incomes under 200% of the FPL who reside in Richland County, South Carolina. The goal of Richland Care is to improve access to care and improve health outcomes for the target population. The program has been operational since November 2001 and has enrolled over 8,090 individuals through August 2004. Participants have access to primary care, prescription drugs, subspecialty care, and hospital inpatient and outpatient services through a network of community hospitals, community health centers, private physicians, and physician residency programs. Richland Care participants are mostly African American (70%), female (69%), single (79%), and have incomes less than 100% of the FPL (55%). Health education and health promotion activities are supported by the Healthwise Handbook (a self-care guide), newsletters and a 24-hour nurse call line. Richland Care also offers care management services that provide demand management for participants utilizing the emergency departments and disease management for high-risk participants with hypertension and/or diabetes.

This study describes the utilization and per member per month (PMPM) cost of emergency department, hospital inpatient and outpatient, primary care and prescription drug services over the three-year period. An earlier study after 22 months of operation found that participants utilized .028 emergency department visits PMPM and 19.7 hospital admissions per 1,000 participants. This study provides cost and utilization information, which policy makers and healthcare providers can use in program design and development.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the target population for Richland Care;
• Identify participants’ cost and utilization of program services;
• Identify the impact of length of program participation on PMPM cost

Keywords: Utilization, Cost Issues

Related Web page: www.palmettohealth.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation