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Context: As funding for home-based palliative care continues to expand, there is an increasing need to understand barriers to patient referral to and acceptance of home-based palliative care.Objectives: The aim of this study was to elicit perspectives of home-based palliative care administrators and providers on barriers encountered in identification, referral, and enrollment of patients eligible for home-based palliative care.Methods: We conducted a qualitative study employing focus groups of nine home-based palliative care agencies across California. Focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed. Using thematic analysis, researchers independently coded the transcripts and identified themes from the codes.Results: A total of 25 HBPC staff participated in the nine focus groups. Participants included both clinicians (n = 17) and administrators (n = 8). Our analysis revealed 13 themes that fit under four major thematic categories: 1) lack of formal payment structures (few HBPC payors and variation in payment and services among payors), 2) agency structure barriers (limitations of electronic medical records and multiple lines of business), 3) patient- and family-level barriers (misconceptions and/or lack of palliative care knowledge, uninformed of the referral and/or no warm hand-off, reluctance to have strangers in the home, overwhelmed with health issues and related services, HBPC service refusal/unresponsive to outreach), and 4) physician-level barriers (misconceptions and/or lack of palliative care knowledge, variability in HBPC payment and services, lack of time, patient ownership).Conclusion: HBPC providers identified a myriad of barriers that preclude patient access to HBPC. With growing provision of HBPC services, greater efforts to overcome these barriers are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although payment for home-based palliative care (HBPC) is slowly spreading, there remains significant challenges in engaging patients and physicians in palliative care programs and research. This challenge was illustrated in our previous HBPC trial that failed to identify and enroll eligible patients in both the study and in HBPC services. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine challenges to participation in HBPC and in research among patients, caregivers, primary care physicians, HBPC providers, and accountable care organizations (ACOs). Design: We conducted a qualitative study employing individual interviews and focus groups. Setting/Subjects: We recruited patients (n = 17), caregivers (n = 8), primary care providers (n = 31), home-based care providers (n = 25), and ACO administrators and leaders (n = 12) from California, United States. Measurements: We used semistructured interview protocols to elicit perceived barriers to HBPC services and research. Results: We identified four overarching themes related to barriers to HBPC and palliative care research. These themes included: (1) limitations of patient recruitment strategies; (2) timing of stakeholder engagement; (3) lack of palliative care health literacy; and (4) novelty of the HBPC market. Conclusion: These findings point to factors that contributed to the failure, and subsequent closure, of the original randomized controlled trial. Our findings may inform the further development of HBPC and, more generally, palliative care practice and policy. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03128060. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Until recently, consumers have had limited resources to assess quality of hospices agencies, contributing to growing numbers of consumers turning to online review sites, such as Yelp. However, little is known about the content of hospice Yelp reviews and how these relate to recently available Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Hospice Compare (HC) site data. Objective: To better understand what consumers report on Yelp about hospice care and explore how these areas relate to HC data. Design: We examined 692 consumer Yelp reviews of 67 hospices in California and compared identified themes with quality measures presented on the HC site. Setting/Subjects: We used a purposive sample of California Hospice's with Yelp reviews. Measurements: Qualitative consumer comments about their experience with hospice care were analyzed by using a grounded theory approach. Results: We found that overall Yelp comments were positive, however Yelp themes were more extensive and diverse than those on HC. Conclusion: We recommend that consumers consider both HC and online review sites such as Yelp when evaluating a hospice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about strategies for enrolling patients in home-based palliative care programs despite the need to conduct effectiveness studies of this emerging industry.Purpose: We used medical claims data from Accountable Care Organizations in California to identify patients for a randomized controlled trial of home-based palliative care. We report outcomes from this strategy and the implications for future research.Results: Claims data identified 1357 patients. Research assistants could not reach 986 patients (72.7%), usually because the phone calls went unanswered (38.5%) and many patients' phone numbers were missing or incorrect (16.3%). Of 371 patients reached, 163 opted out. Of 208 patients screened, 177 were ineligible for the trial. Just 10 patients were enrolled.Recommendations: Our findings suggest that medical claims data may not be useful for engaging patients potentially eligible for palliative care research trials. We recommend that alternative identification and recruitment strategies be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Two strategies for rating the quality of nursing homes (NHs) in the USA are exemplified by the Nursing Home Compare (NHC) website, launched by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in 1998, and Yelp. com, an online consumer review site that has grown in popularity since its founding in 2004. Both sites feature a 5-star rating system. While much is known about NHC ratings, little is known about NH Yelp ratings. This study examines Yelp ratings for NHs in California and compares these ratings with NHC ratings. Understanding how these ratings relate can inform efforts to empower consumers and enhance NH decision-making. Methods We collected NHC and Yelp ratings for all California NHs between September and November 2016. For each NH with a Yelp review, we recorded the star rating and the total number of reviews. We also recorded the NHC 5-star rating and NHC ratings for inspections, staffing and quality measures (QMs). We conducted descriptive statistics and frequencies for these variables. We conducted correlations and tested means to compare the ratings. Results A total of 675 NHs (68.1% of the total sample of 991 NHs) had both Yelp ratings and NHC ratings. Correlations between the Yelp and NHC ratings were relatively weak. The Yelp rating was significantly lower than the 5-star NHC rating and the NHC ratings for staffing and QMs. It was significantly higher than the NHC inspection rating. Conclusions This study found that when consumers rate NHs on Yelp, their ratings differ considerably from NHC ratings, a finding in keeping with similar studies of NH quality measurement. Further research is needed to analyse the content of Yelp reviews and compare the themes and topics consumers identify with those reported on NHC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) form allows seriously ill individuals to express their preferences for end-of-life treatments. Despite increased POLST use, little is known about the quality of completed forms. Objective: We examined the quality of POLST forms prepared for nursing home residents, including whether they had required signatures and clinically consistent care preferences. Design: We conducted a chart review of POLST forms for a sample of nursing home residents in California. Setting/Sample: We completed POLST audits for 938 residents in 13 nursing homes in Los Angeles. Measures: We recorded whether POLST forms were signed by both the patient (or proxy) and the physician, and whether the patient's treatment choices regarding resuscitation and medical intervention were consistent, as required by the California form. Results: Overall, 69.6% of audited POLST forms had at least one indicator of poor quality. Most lacked a required signature (15.8% lacked a physician signature and 17.4% lacked a patient/proxy signature) and 5.6% had conflicting treatment preferences. Conclusion: We found 30.4% of POLST forms for nursing home residents were not complete or documented clinically contradictory treatment preferences. Improvement in the quality of POLST forms is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of the Study: Previous studies examining preferences documented in Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) have found that most sampled POLSTs show a preference to limit care. These studies were conducted in states that are relatively ethnically homogeneous. This study investigated the POLST preferences of nursing home residents in an ethnically diverse state--California--that requires nursing homes to document whether residents execute POLST. Design and Methods: Data were collected from POLST forms executed by 941 residents in a convenience sample of 13 nursing homes in Southern California. The study analyzed data from 4 POLST form items: signatory (resident vs. surrogate decision-maker) and care preferences related to: (a) resuscitation; (b) medical intervention; and (c) artificially administered nutrition. Descriptive, comparative, and regression analyses are reported at both individual and facility levels. Results: Of reviewed POLSTs, 46.8% documented a preference for "do not resuscitate" (DNR); 47.3% documented limits on medical intervention; and 52% documented limits on artificially administered nutrition. Residents in nursing homes serving comparatively larger populations of older residents and White residents had lower odds of electing the full care option for each of the POLST's 3 care items; those in nursing homes serving comparatively larger populations of Hispanic residents had higher odds of electing long-term artificially administered nutrition. Implications: This study found lower rates of POLST choices limiting care than previous studies, possibly because the sampled nursing homes served a more ethnically- and age-diverse population. California's requirement that nursing homes document whether residents execute POLST also may have indirectly influenced choice patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A primary barrier to physician disclosure of terminal prognosis is concern that patients will lose hope. Inpatient palliative care (IPC) teams are especially posed to mediate this barrier, but little is known about patient perceptions and experience of IPC. Objective: This study aimed to elicit seriously ill patients' perspective and experience of an IPC consultation, and to explore patient attitudes toward information derived from the consultation. Methods: An exploratory, qualitative study was conducted at a large nonprofit community hospital in the Los Angeles area. An established IPC team conducted individualized consults with patients and families within 24 hours of referral. Eligible participants were English-speaking adults, aged 18 or over, who had received an IPC consultation within the previous week during their hospitalization. Purposive recruitment of patients was conducted by the IPC social worker. Interviews were conducted at bedside using a semistructured interview protocol employing open-ended questions. Results: Twelve seriously ill patients were interviewed. Four themes were identified from the interview transcripts: (1) holistic care approach, (2) knowledge/information gained, (3) hope and enlightenment, and (4) patient readiness. Conclusions: Results suggest that disclosure of a terminal prognosis does not mean loss of patient hope. Instead, hope was redefined on a goal other than cure. Presenting patients with information and increasing their knowledge about care options and resources may facilitate patients in identifying meaningful goals that are better aligned with their prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To determine the perspectives of seriously ill individuals on reasons for 30-day hospital readmission. Design A prospective qualitative study was conducted employing individual interviews conducted at bedside. Setting Department of Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. Participants Seriously ill individuals with heart failure or cancer receiving inpatient palliative care and readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of hospital discharge were recruited to participate. Nine were interviewed. Measurements A semistructured interview protocol was used to elicit participant perspectives on readmission causes. Results All participants were male and had a mean age of 70.1 ± 9.5. Participants were ethnically diverse (three African Americans, three Caucasians, three Hispanic or mixed ethnic background). Six lived alone, and four did not have caregiver support. Qualitative analysis of transcripts revealed three themes relating to reasons for hospital readmission: lack of caregiver support and motivation to provide self-care, acceptance of condition and desire for aggressive care, and access to care and poor quality of care. Conclusion Participants identified potentially avoidable reasons for hospital readmission as well as causes that require rethinking regarding how community support is targeted and delivered. Participant preference for aggressive care, inability to provide self-care, and lack of caregiver support suggest the need for new and innovative mechanisms to support seriously ill community-dwelling individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High 30-day readmission rates are a major burden to the American medical system. Much attention is on transitional care to decrease financial costs and improve patient outcomes. Social workers may be uniquely qualified to improve care transitions and have not previously been used in this role. We present a case study of an older, dually eligible Latina woman who received a social work–driven transition intervention that included in-home and telephone contacts. The patient was not readmitted during the six-month study period, mitigated her high pain levels, and engaged in social outings once again. These findings suggest the value of a social worker in a transitional care role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite dramatic increases in hospice enrollment, ethnic disparities persist. With rapidly growing populations of Asian Americans, research is needed to elucidate factors that contribute to hospice underenrollment in subgroups of Asian populations. The purpose of this study was to explore older Chinese Americans' knowledge, understanding, and perceptions of hospice care. Three focus groups were conducted, one each in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese, all recruited from a Chinese social service agency. Focus groups were audiotaped and transcribed and then coded for themes. Thirty-four Chinese Americans participated in the groups, all but one reporting primary language other than English. Themes included lack of knowledge, death timing, burden (financial, emotional, physical toward family or government), peaceful death (relief of suffering), and quality of care (and its influence on perception of best care location). Findings indicate the need for hospice education and outreach to Chinese Americans. Additionally, to address concerns about burden and death in the home, efforts to improve access to hospice facilities are needed. Findings from this study provide direction for healthcare providers to address potential barriers to increasing access to hospice of Chinese Americans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about characteristics of those who transition to the community after long stays in nursing facilities. Yet this information is highly relevant to efforts to reduce preventable nursing facility use. This study identifies and compares community transition among short-stay (1–90 days) and long-stay residents (91–365 days) aged 65 + using Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and logistic regression to analyze 3,762 episodes of care in Southern California. Over 90% of community discharges occurred in the first 90 days, and few characteristics predicted discharge after 90 days. The findings inform transition programs' efforts to identify and effectively target residents after 90-day stays. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents an abstract of the article "From Hospital to Home: A Brief Nurse Practitioner Intervention for Vulnerable Older Adults" by Susan Enguidanos, Nancy Gibbs and Paula Jamison.

Background: To develop and grow most effectively, palliative care programs must consider how best to align their mission with that of their institution. To do so, programs must identify their institutional mission and needs, what palliative care can do to address those needs given available resources, and how the palliative care team can measure and document its value. Such an approach encourages the palliative care team to think strategically and to see themselves and their service as a solution to issues and concerns within the institution. It also helps a palliative care team decide which, among many potential opportunities and possible initiatives, is the one most likely to be supported by the institution and have a recognized and significant impact. Subjects and Methods: We present five case studies to demonstrate how successful programs identify and address institutional needs to create opportunities for palliative care program growth. These case studies can serve as models for other programs seeking to develop or expand their palliative care services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluates the Visiting Nurse Association Foundation Transprofessional Model of terminal home care for HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles, California. Role of social workers in pre-hospice terminal care services; Improvement in patients' quality of life; Use of evaluation date to develop a cost profile of patient care.

Background Although patient-centered care is an expressed value of our healthcare system, no studies have examined what consumers say in online reviews about nursing homes (NHs). Insight into themes addressed in these reviews could inform improvement efforts that promote patient-centered NH care. Research Design and Methods We analyzed nursing home (NH) Yelp reviews. From a list of all NHs in California, we drew a purposeful sample of 51 NHs, selecting facilities representing a range of geographical areas and occupancy rates. Two research teams analyzed the reviews using grounded theory to identify codes and tracked how frequently each code was mentioned. Results We evaluated 264 reviews, identifying 24 codes, grouped under five categories: quality of staff care and staffing; physical facility and setting; resident safety and security; clinical care quality; and financial issues. More than half (53.41%) of Yelp reviewers posted comments related to staff attitude and caring and nearly a third (29.2%) posted comments related to staff responsiveness. Yelp reviewers also often posted about NHs’ physical environment. Infrequently mentioned were the quality of health care provided and concerns about resident safety and security. Discussion and Implications Our results are consistent with those from related studies. Yelp reviewers focus on NH aspects that are not evaluated in most other NH rating systems. The federal Nursing Home Compare website, for instance, does not report measures of staff attitudes or the NH’s physical setting. Rather, it reports measures of staffing levels and clinical processes and outcomes. We recommend that NH consumers consult both types of rating systems because they provide complementary information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple studies demonstrate most consumers do not know about palliative care. And, since January 2018, California's Medi-Cal Managed Care patients have been eligible for palliative care services under Senate Bill 1004 (SB 1004). Yet, the uptake of palliative care services was underwhelming. The purpose of this study was to explore patient-centered barriers to palliative care. We recruited 27 adult Medicaid managed care patients from community-based sites in Los Angeles and conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews. Each participant was asked questions to elicit their knowledge about, and perspectives on, palliative care as well as their preferred communication approaches for receiving a referral to palliative care. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. We used a grounded theory approach to guide our analysis of primary themes. Our findings indicated that the barriers to palliative care referrals among this population included lack of knowledge about palliative care and available services; the reliance on, and trust in, primary care physicians for information; language and cultural barriers; housing instability; and patient believing they are neither old enough nor sick enough to need palliative care. These findings emphasize the critical role primary care physicians play in advocating for low-income patients and the necessity for culturally sensitive education about palliative care. Promoting knowledge and understanding of palliative care among both primary care physicians and consumers is critical to ensuring access to care.

Objectives: Medication-related problems remain one of the largest health risks for older adults, yet there are few resources available to effectively reduce medication-related problems for community dwelling older adults. The aim of this pilot program was to determine the effectiveness of a multifaceted medication intervention on medication adherence and self-efficacy in medication use., Design: A single sample, pre-post-test design., Setting: This pilot study was conducted at Independence at Home, a Senior Care Action Network (SCAN) community service in Southern California., Participants: One hundred and eighty community-dwelling, diverse older adults with potential medication-related problems and their caregivers., Intervention: The Community Medication Education, Data, & Safety (C-MEDS) Program identified community-dwelling older adults with potential medication-related problems and provided in-depth personalized medication safety, management and support, based on an in-home assessment and interventions delivered by trained geriatrics experts including pharmacists, nurses, a community health worker, and a pharmacy technician., Measurements: The primary outcomes included medication use self-efficacy, measured by the MUSE, and select medication adherence measures. Adherence was measured via pill count and via the MedAdhIR tool, a scale that measures risk for medication non-adherence., Results: Following participation in the C-MEDS program, community-dwelling older adult C-MEDS graduates (n = 105) had higher self-efficacy in managing medications (P < .001). Additionally, C-MEDS graduates also exhibited increased adherence to three types of medications (statins, diabetes-related, and certain hypertension drugs; P < .001). Moreover, risk of non-adherence declined significantly following C-MEDS graduation (P < .001)., Conclusion: C-MEDS holds promise as an effective intervention among community-dwelling older adults in improving medication self-efficacy, medication adherence among select medications, and reducing risk for non-adherence. Additional studies are needed to assess replicability and impact on clinical outcomes., (© 2020 The American Geriatrics Society.)

Introduction: Studies show that home-based palliative care (HBPC) improves participant outcomes and satisfaction with care while also decreasing hospitalizations and emergency department visits. U.S. health care payment reforms create financial opportunities to offer HBPC. Consequently, more HBPC programs are emerging, heightening the need to evaluate their effectiveness. Methods: This randomized, controlled trial is comparing the effectiveness of an evidence-based model of HBPC and enhanced usual primary care for participants who receive primary care from medical groups and clinics organized under an accountable care organization or Medicare Advantage plan. Palliative care services are reimbursed by our partnering health plan provider. The five-year trial will enroll 1155 seriously ill participants (and ∼884 of their caregivers) with heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or advanced cancer. We are collecting data via telephone surveys with participants at baseline and one and two months postenrollment and with caregivers at baseline, one and two months postenrollments, and following the death of a loved one. We are collecting participant-reported outcome measures of pain, symptoms, anxiety, depression, participant-provider communication, and hope. Caregiver outcome measures include caregiver burden, communication with providers, anxiety, and depression. Additional outcomes are participant survival time and participants' emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Study Implementation: Challenges and Contributions: Our research team has encountered several significant challenges in early study implementation. These include engaging primary care providers in the study and coordinating logistics with a health plan. Both challenges have contributed to a lag in participant enrollment. Despite these challenges, our study holds tremendous promise to accelerate adoption and spread of an evidence-based HBPC model across the country.

Objective: To identify characteristics associated with four potential medication problems among older adults at risk for nursing home placement., Design: Cross-sectional survey., Setting: Three sites of California's Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP), a Medi-Cal waiver care management program., Participants: Six hundred fifteen dual-eligible, functionally impaired, community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older enrolled in MSSP between June 2004 and January 2006., Intervention: Medication screening using the Home Health Criteria that include medication use and clinical risk factors., Main Outcome Measures: Demographic and health characteristics associated with four problem types: 1) unnecessary therapeutic duplication, 2) psychotropic medication use with concurrent falls or confusion, 3) cardiovascular medication problems, and 4) use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with risk of peptic ulcer complications. Independent measures included age, gender, race/ethnicity, living arrangement, number of medications, health status, and utilization., Results: Each problem type was associated with different characteristics, as identified by logistic regression modeling. Increased number of medications was associated with therapeutic duplication (odds ratio [OR] = 1.27; confidence interval [CI] 1.20-1.35; P < 0.001) and problematic psychotropic medication use (OR = 1.15; CI 1.08-1.22; P < 0.001). Psychotropic use was also associated with emergency department, hospital, or skilled nursing admission in the previous year (OR = 1.86; CI 1.15-3.00; P = 0.012), living with someone (OR = 0.57; CI 0.34-0.95; P = 0.032), and new care management enrollment (OR = 1.99; CI 1.22-3.24; P = 0.006). New enrollment was also associated with cardiovascular medication problems (OR = 2.15; CI 1.32-3.51; P = 0.002). There were no significant characteristics associated with NSAID problems (not shown)., Conclusion: Unique predictors of potential medication problems highlight the need for systematic medication screening and treatment planning. These should include medication therapy management for vulnerable community-dwelling elders (upon enrollment for care management) and for those taking multiple medications. Funding mechanisms via Medicare Part D (prescription drug program) should be explored in this population to increase identification of medication problems and their resolution.

This is a retrospective study using secondary data to investigate variation in site of death by ethnicity and to determine how hospice enrollment affects site of death. Data for this study were obtained between 1996 and 2000 from linked Medi-Cal and Medicare claims from 18 California counties participating in a state legislated effort to improve chronic care services in California. Subjects examined in this study included 38,519 decedents aged 65 and older who died between 1997 and 2000 and were dually eligible the entire year immediately before death. Demographic variables were site of death, cause of death, hospice use, and care setting in the year before death. Results revealed that blacks and Latinos were significantly more likely than whites to die at home, although being black or Asian was negatively associated with hospice use. This variation did not change when hospice use was controlled. Thus, although minorities were more likely to die at home, they were less likely to receive hospice care. Because patients dying at home without hospice care report higher rates of pain than those who have hospice care, physicians must work to ensure that minority patients understand all end-of-life care options, including hospice, and how these care options can be delivered in a culturally competent manner.

Medication errors are common among older adults, particularly among those who are at heightened risk due to transfer between care settings. Determining accurate medications for hospitalized patients is a complicated process. This paper presents findings from a small pilot study conducted to identify medication documentation problems at the point of hospital discharge among older adults and the problems encountered in developing new technological systems to address these problems. A prospective study was conducted within a managed care medical center that included patient and physician surveys and chart reviews. A review of 104 medical records revealed several problems in the documentation of patient medication including legibility, use of medical abbreviations and incomplete and missing entries. While patients overall were satisfied with medications communication efforts at discharge, physicians surveyed reported that these methods were inadequate in transmitting medication lists to primary care physicians, patients and other care providers. Patients reported taking more drugs than what were listed in the medical record. These findings led to the development, testing, and implementation of an electronic medication sheet. Despite the success in developing this new system, few physicians engaged in its use, with most preferring to continue with their standard discharge practices of written communication.

Context: Despite the widespread recognition of the need for new models of care to better serve patients at the end-of-life, little evidence exists documenting the effectiveness of these models., Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a palliative program for end-of-life care., Design: A comparison group study was conducted between March 1999 and August 2000 comparing subjects enrolled in a palliative care intervention to those receiving usual care., Setting: Home Health Department at Kaiser Permanente, TriCentral Service Area., Subjects: During the course of the 2-year study, 558 subjects were enrolled. A subgroup of 300 patients who had died during the course of the study was selected for analysis; 161 were enrolled in the Palliative Care Program and 139 in the comparison group., Intervention: The Kaiser Permanente Palliative Care Project is a multidisciplinary care management approach for home-based end of life care and treatment. The program is designed to facilitate the transition from acute to palliative care during the last 12 months of life with the goal of improving quality of life through the provision of symptom control and pain relief, emotional and spiritual support, and patient education., Main Outcome Measures: Medical service use and satisfaction with services., Results: Palliative care patients had increased satisfaction with services at 60 days after enrollment and significantly fewer emergency department visits, hospital days, skilled nursing facility days, and physician visits than those in the comparison group. Those enrolled in palliative care averaged a 45% decrease in costs as compared to usual care patients., Conclusion: Through integrating palliative care into curative care practices earlier in the disease trajectory, chronically ill patients nearing the end of life report improved satisfaction with care and demonstrate less acute care use resulting in lower costs of care. In addition, patients enrolled in the palliative care program were more likely to die at home than comparison group patients.

This article describes a geriatric care management project that is testing whether geriatric care management plus a brief purchase of service (POS) intervention will lower medical costs, improve satisfaction with care, increase care plan adherence, and improve perceived quality of life. Kaiser Permanente members aged 65 and older who were eligible for geriatric care management and consented to participate in the study were randomized to one of four study groups: information and referral via mail, telephone care management, geriatric care management, or geriatric care management with POS capability. The POS intervention provides up to $2,000 of designated, paid services including in-home supportive services, transportation, respite, or medical equipment within the first 6 months of care management enrollment. Approximately 1,400 senior members were referred to the geriatric care management program, and 451 were randomly assigned to one of the four study groups. Those enrolled in the geriatric care management program were significantly more likely to be ethnic minorities and have lower income than the general Kaiser Permanente senior enrollment. Barriers encountered in implementing the POS intervention included establishing contractual agreements between Kaiser Permanente and private and community agencies, locating adequate and sufficient community agencies to provided needed services, monitoring service contracts, and delaying use of the POS benefit.