Toolkit on Reducing Disparities in Medicaid Managed Care
<p>As many as half of Medicaid's 52 million beneficiaries are members of racial and ethnic minority subgroups and more than 60 percent of all Medicaid beneficiaries are enrolled in managed care. As a result, Medicaid managed care is an ideal environment for identify and address disparities in health care.<br><br>A new <a href="/cnlib/pub/enews_clickthrough.htm?enews_item_id=26598&return_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecmwf%2Eorg%2Ftools%2Ftools%5Fshow%2Ehtm%3Fdoc%5Fid%3D450033%26%23doc450033">Commonwealth Fund-supported toolkit</a>, developed by the Center for Health Care Strategies, aims to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in Medicaid managed care by offering case studies, as well as "key lessons" on using data to identify disparities; developing patient-centered approaches to care; and collaborating with key stakeholders.<br><br>Based on the experiences of a workgroup of Medicaid managed care organizations, the toolkit targets disparities in birth outcomes and immunizations, asthma care, and diabetes care. Case studies include the Rochester-based Monroe Plan for Medical Care Inc.'s Healthy Beginnings Program, which aimed to address high neonatal intensive care unit utilization and low prenatal care rates among African-American pregnant teenagers and their babies.<br><br>For more information and to access the toolkit and other Fund-supported innovations, visit the <a href="/tools/tools.htm">Innovations</a> section of the Fund's Web site.</p>
http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/newsletters/ealerts/2007/feb/toolkit-on-reducing-disparities-in-medicaid-managed-care