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

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* The 'outcomes", both short-and long-term. 9
States are moving toward stressing accountability of outcomes or results, rather than
simply accountability of finances. However, the science of outcome measurement
has not sufficiently advanced to rely on these measures exclusively. Efforts
currently underway to develop such outcomes include:
* The Center for Self-Help Research at the University of California at
Berkeley developed an empowerment scale examining the person's
ability to make decisions on concrete issues in his/her personal life,
meeting basic needs, and participating in organizations.10
* The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University
developed an empowerment scale used in consumer-run self-help
programs. It examines such issues as control over one's life,
achievement of goals, self-esteem and self-efficacy.' 1
* The outcome measurement system developed by the University of
Cincinnati's Quality Center is now being used in 12 states. It tracks four
measures: mental health symptoms, daily social functioning,
perception of physical health and patient satisfactions
* The Child Welfare League of America's Odyssey Project is examining
outcomes for about 2,500 emotionally disturbed children and teens in
residential settings. Outcomes to be examined at the end of treatment
include: placements into less intensive settings, family reunifications
and adoptions, educational achievements, level of life skills,
behavioral problems, and social competencies. Outcomes at one- and
two-year follow-ups include: employment, educational achievement,
personal satisfaction with life, satisfaction with services, connections
9 Avedis Donabedian, 'Evaluating the Quality of Medical <strong>Care</strong>,' Millbank Memorial Fund
Ouarterty (July 1966): Part 2.
10 Steven Segal, Carol Silverman, and Tanya Temkin, Empowerment Scale, (Berkeley, CA:
Center for Self-Help Research).
11 Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Making Decisions: Empowerment Scale, (Boston
University, Sargent College of Allied Health Professionals).
12 'Outcome Measurement Grows; Defense Ponders National Rollout', <strong>Managed</strong>
BehavWoral Healh News 3, no. 12, March 27, (1997): 1
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