Assessing the Impact of Self-directed Care, Within a Medicaid-funded Environment,on Participation and Community Living

This project proposed to demonstrate the effectiveness, costs, and benefits to participation and community living self-directed care programming within a financially sustainable Medicaid managed care environment. The study examined outcomes associated with the implementation of a novel self-directed care (SDC) approach being implemented in Delaware County, Pennsylvania in which consumers were able to access a set amount of renewable funds per year and direct how they were spent, both to purchase the types and amounts of rehabilitation and treatment services they desire (and from whom they choose) and to purchase a broad-range of individualized resources and services that are generally outside of Medicaid funding (e.g., health club memberships, yoga classes, support in taking care of bills).

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adults between 18-65 who are currently receiving Medicaid-reimbursed services in Delaware County, Pennsylvania for either a schizophrenia-spectrum, major depression, or bipolar disorder;
2. Individuals with a cost profile within the 60-90% band of all Magellan-administered Medicaid recipients in the county (estimated service costs between $10,048 and $22,324); 3) No more than two inpatient hospitalizations of 10 days per stay, over a 2 year period prior to the study;

4) No hospitalization within 6 months of the study; 5) Ability to understand self-directed care requirement and express interest in working with a "recovery coach."

Exclusion Criteria:

1. do not speak English;
2. have a legal guardian;
3. are unable to give informed consent