Integrated disease, case, and depression management for those with Medicare supplement coverage

Research Objective: To better understand depression among the elderly, highlight the need for depression management, discuss disease management programs for Medicare beneficiaries, and provide details about new initiatives being developed for those with Medicare Supplement (i.e., Medigap) coverage.

Study Design: The literature was reviewed to summarize and highlight major issues in diagnosing and treating depression in older adults. We discuss disease management programs available for Medicare beneficiaries, noting the lack of care management (and especially depression management) available for beneficiaries with supplement coverage. Finally, we describe a new integrated care management and depression program for those with Medigap coverage.

Population Studied: We conducted a literature search using PubMed, looking for peer-reviewed articles pertaining to disease management, care management, and depression in the elderly.

Principle Findings: Depression is a substantial and increasingly recognized public burden among older adults and is commonly present among those who also suffer from other serious chronic illnesses. While comprehensive depression management programs have been shown to improve outcomes in academic trials, systematic integration of depression management into clinical programs has not occurred widely for beneficiaries in Medicare with or without Medigap coverage.

Conclusion: The new integrated disease management, case management, and depression management program developed by UnitedHealth Group will address the critical needs of older Americans suffering from chronic illnesses and depression.