Frequently Asked Questions

Why change to complexity-based care integration?

In the current health care environment, reimbursement procedures make it impossible for mental condition professionals to support the work of primary and specialty care physicians as they try to address the needs of their comorbid and/or complex patients. Mental conditions are common among patients with chronic, often multiple, medical conditions. They contribute to treatment resistance and non-response and result in high health care service use and other health-related costs, e.g., lost productivity; disability; social, school, and criminal justice service utilization). Unless mental condition symptoms come under control, these adverse outcomes will persist.

It is no longer acceptable to retain dis-integrated physical and mental health care delivery or segregated payment practices resulting from independent general medical and mental condition benefits in health plan contracts. Without change, billions of dollars in annual unnecessary physical health service use costs associated with ineffectively treated mental conditions in medical patients are projected by Milliman actuaries (see Table below).

While the massive reversible costs associated with segregated medical and mental condition care provides an economic stimulus for change, the alleviate patient symptoms, suffering, and impairment, which is the primary mechanism through which cost savings is accomplished, should be the primary reason to transition from traditional independent physical and mental condition management to an integrated approach.

For more information or to set up an appointment contact: Mary Kathol, Director of Project Implementation.

Cartesian Solutions, Inc.™
3004 Foxpoint Rd. - Burnsville, MN 55337
Phone: 952-426-1626 - Fax: 952-426-1200
E-mail: integration@cartesiansolutions.com