Diagnostic risk adjustment for Medicaid: the disability payment system

Health Care Financ Rev. 1996 Spring;17(3):7-33.

Abstract

This article describes a system of diagnostic categories that Medicaid programs can use for adjusting capitation payments to health plans that enroll people with disability. Medicaid claims from Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, New York, and Ohio are analyzed to demonstrate that the greater predictability of costs among people with disabilities makes risk adjustment more feasible than for a general population and more critical to creating health systems for people with disability. The application of our diagnostic categories to State claims data is described, including estimated effects on subsequent-year costs of various diagnoses. The challenges of implementing adjustment by diagnosis are explored.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Capitation Fee*
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Female
  • Health Care Costs / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medicaid / economics*
  • Medicaid / organization & administration
  • Medicaid / statistics & numerical data
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Economic
  • Persons with Disabilities / classification*
  • Persons with Disabilities / statistics & numerical data
  • Rate Setting and Review / methods*
  • Regression Analysis
  • Risk Management
  • United States