Evaluation of the
Family Care Pilots
Several components of the Family Care Pilots will be evaluated. Aging and Disability
Resource Centers are responsible for providing prevention services, providing clients with
information, assistance and referral to programs, and determining eligibility for the new
Family Care benefit. Care Management Organizations (CMOs) will be responsible for the
management and delivery of long-term care services through the new benefit. The new system
is intended to help people to remain independent in the community, to deliver quality
services and to maximize consumer choice. Counties have already begun both Resource Center
and CMO Pilots.
Independent External Evaluation
The Legislative Audit Bureau has solicited bids and entered into a contract with The Lewin Group, an internationally known research and
evaluation firm, to conduct an evaluation of Family Care that is independent of the
Department of Health and Family Services. The evaluation will provide objective
information about the effectiveness of Family Care in:
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Enhancing community and individual awareness of available long-term care options;
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Facilitating consumer access to appropriate high quality long-term care services;
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Supporting consumer preference and choice;
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Promoting independence and self-sufficiency;
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Ensuring health and safety; and
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Promoting efficient use of resources to provide access to services without wait lists
This evaluation will inform the Legislature in making decisions about the future of
Family Care, and will meet the requirements of the federal Health Care Financing
Administration for an independent evaluation of the Medical Assistance waiver for Family
Care.
The evaluation will include:
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Reports on the process of implementing Family Care
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An analysis of the cost-effectiveness of Family Care and its impact on consumer
outcomes.
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A comparison of per person costs for long-term care delivered in the community and in
nursing homes.
Methods of Analysis
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Site visits will be made to both the Resource Centers and the CMOs to assess pilot
implementation, quality assurance procedures and information systems.
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Profiles of the health and functional status of Family Care clients will be compiled to
compare their frailness with that of typical long-term care clients.
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Family Care clients will be surveyed to obtain feedback and to determine satisfaction
with the Program. Both persons who enrolled in the CMO and persons who exited after
accessing only Resource Center services will be surveyed.
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Compliance with contract requirements will be reviewed.
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Service utilization patterns will be analyzed.
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Total and per capita program costs will be assessed and compared with costs under
current long-term programs.
Types of Questions that the Evaluation will Address
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Do Resource Center services prevent avoidable or unnecessarily early need for long-term
care services?
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Are the Resource Centers making appropriate referrals and providing complete client data
to the CMOs?
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Who participates in Family Care and why? Who does not participate and why?
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Do Resource Centers and CMOs enable people to remain independent, conserve their
resources and delay the need for publicly funded long-term care services?
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Does participation in Family Care increase consumer options?
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Does participation in Family Care improve access to needed services?
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Does participation in Family Care improve the quality of life of clients?
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Are Family Care per capita costs less than long-term care services would be under the
existing system?
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Are more people served because dollars were freed up by reducing per capita costs?
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What impact has the Family Care Pilot had on the supply, organization and delivery of
community services?
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Have the Family Care Pilots been implemented as required and as planned?
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Can the Family Care Pilots be replicated in other areas of the state?
Ongoing Evaluation by the Department of Health and Family
Services
In addition to the independent evaluation, the Department of Health and Family Services
will continually monitor and evaluate the Family Care Pilots in order to monitor:
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The quality of services and outcomes for consumers
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Consumer satisfaction, complaints and grievances
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Status of the Family Care budget and compliance with federal budget neutrality
requirements
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Pilots’ provider network capacity to meet service demands
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Patterns of service utilization in Family Care and any impact on other long-term care
services
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Pilots’ compliance with contract requirements and financial status
Last Revised: November 28, 2006 |
