Medicaid Managed Care - U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

226
An important aspect of the Children Come First of Dane County program is that it is ocn of Wisconsin's
first behavioral mental health programs to successfully operate under a managed earm system. Children
Coma First of Dane County has operated under a full-risk managed eare system since 1994.
The current monthly capitation rae of S3,500 per child comes from a comination of soacs. including
the Department of Health and Family Services. the Division of Healt. and the Dane County Deparmcent of
Human Services.
The funds are used to subeontnact for in necessary mental bealth. inpatient hospital emergeney care,
outpaticnt therapy. residential treatsent. therapeutic foster care, case aide. and -owme trecatment services.
Although the program is costly, it is much less expensive than instiuitionaliztaion. and tbe results are much
bester. The program has saved an estimated S96,900 in 1994 and SIlt,600 in 1995. In addition, since its
-inception in April 1993, The program has produced the following resulsr
- An 89% decrease in the delinquency rate of participating children.
* A rate of over 60% of childrcn who arc ablc to lvein thc community either indopcadty or with
failies upon completion of the progran.
An average of 15% improvement per participating child on the chuld and family behavioral fuzctioning
scale.
- An over 90% satisfaction rate among families with dte support reesived through th program
A decrease in the average monthly inpatient hospital rays per child from 3.3 days to .8 days.
Says Eleanor McLean, who oversees the Children Come Fist of Dane County progiam as Section Chief of
the Child and Adolescent Unit of the Bur of CommUnity Mental Health (within the Division of
Community Living: DHFS). -'his wraparound process has proven invaluable in serving children with
severe emotional disabilities and their families. It mcso the Departmnt's oal of keeping families together
and children in their home community."
Curently. Children Come First of Dane County is serving 125 children. ITh enrollment capacity is 160
children.
Children must meet the following eligibility requirements to participate in the program:
Be age 17 or younger. (However, children may rcmin in the program tbronun age 1.)
* Be a resident of Dane County.
Have at least one severe emotional disorder.
Be at imminent risk of placemeat in a rasidential treaonen center. psychiaeic hospitL child caring
institution, orjuvenile correctional facilkiy.,*;
Reprinted with panrzissionfrom the Februm'y 1997 Forward rxwler.