Care Management: Implications for Medical Practice, Health Policy, and Health Services Research

Health care delivery systems throughout the United States are employing the triple aim (improving the experience of care, improving the health of populations, and reducing per capita costs of health care) as a framework to transform health care delivery. Understanding and effectively managing population health is central to each of the aim’s three elements. Care management (CM) has emerged as a leading practice-based strategy for managing the health of populations.

This issue brief highlights three key strategies to enhance existing or emerging CM programs: (1) identify population(s) with modifiable risks; (2) align CM services to the needs of the population(s); and (3) identify, prepare, and integrate appropriate personnel to deliver the needed services. This brief summarizes recommendations for decision makers in practice and policy, as well as for future research. The brief's recommendations were informed by 14 Transforming Primary Care grants and 4 Delivery System Research grants, all funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) .