The State of Illinois' solicitation for Innovative Care Coordination Models is a view into the path to accelerating care management and bending the cost curve with bottom up solutions. This path is really an opportunity for disparate organizations to begin to identify and define their future, not just for chronically ill Medicaid patients but for all patients.
The focus on care coordination strategies, partnerships and leveraging existing strengths creates a must do exercise for all organizations large and small. The ability to articulate a path for the future, identifying real strategies around measurable outcomes with the right set of partners is a call to begin to move if you haven't already.
Still I worry that there are many out there who are not using this opportunity to think through the best of their organization and to shine a spotlight on the missing links in care delivery and coordination. Even if the Medicaid population in need of services is not a local concern or target market, the questions asked and outcomes required are a view into the soon to be rapidly changing health care landscape. The planning by Blue Cross with large partners, the internal focus on health outcomes by Aetna will impact those not currently engaged. The State solicitation is one opportunity to move the planning to a real, concrete level.
I am thrilled to be working with clients on this compelling challenge.
