CMS looks closer at DSM
By HME News Staff
Updated Sat May 31, 2003
WASHINGTON — CMS continues to show interest in disease state management as a way to contain healthcare costs.
On May 29, CMS closed a request for proposal for its Capitated Disease Management Demonstration.
Later this summer, CMS will initiate a population-based DSM demonstration that mirrors its existing fee-for-service reimbursement model.
CMS already has two DSM demonstrations underway.
CMS's interest in DSM as a way to control healthcare costs pleases proponents of DMS. They would, however, like to see the government adopt DSM without delay.
“If disease management is going to work in the Medicare world, and the entire (DSM) industry thinks it will, do you craft a demonstration project, award it, let it run for three years, evaluate it and in six to seven years start to derive benefits,” said Bob Stone, executive vp of American Healthways, one of the nation's largest providers of DSM services. “Or, if you really think it will work, do you do it now and not pursue the demo?” HME
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