Truven Health Analytics Study Finds Spike in Managed Long Term Services and Supports

ANN ARBOR, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Truven Health Analytics, formerly the Healthcare business of Thomson Reuters, released a study conducted jointly with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that details the increased scope and importance of Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) programs. States are using MLTSS to expand home- and community-based services by combining traditional services with managed care approaches.

“States are increasingly using managed care as one more strategy in their quest to expand community-based options to people”

The new study, The Growth of Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Programs: A 2012 Update, which was presented on October 15^th at the 25^th annual National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) Conference, analyzes trends in MLTSS programs nationwide. It finds that the number of persons receiving long-term services and supports through the program grew from 105,000 to 389,000 between 2004 and 2012: a 370% increase.

Additionally, the report projects that 26 states will have MLTSS programs by 2014, up from 16 that currently offer these programs.

“States are increasingly using managed care as one more strategy in their quest to expand community-based options to people,” said Paul Saucier, director, Integrated Care Systems at Truven Health Analytics and co-author of the study. “Increasingly, states are finding that by implementing MLTSS programs, they can reduce preventable admissions to nursing homes, avoid redundant services, fill gaps in care and reduce per-person costs. As a result, we project continued growth in the next two years, in terms of the number of states, the number of programs and the number of enrollees.”

In addition to the aggregate trend analysis and projections for future adoption of MLTSS programs, the report also dissects each state’s unique approach to implementation, administration and performance measurement. Of the 16 states that currently offer MLTSS, eight have mandatory enrollment and seven have voluntary enrollment. About half of the MLTSS programs include only persons at the institutional level of care, which account for 25 percent of enrollment nationally. Programs that serve people with a broader range of LTSS needs, including those who are not at the institutional level of care, but qualify for personal care services, account for 75 percent of enrollment nationally.

To download the full report, which includes a state-by-state breakdown of MLTSS program design, please visit http://interest.truvenhealth.com/forms/GOV-201209NASHPWPDownload.

For more information on this and other research, contact research@truvenhealth.com.

About Truven Health Analytics:

Truven Health Analytics, formerly the Healthcare business of Thomson Reuters, delivers unbiased information, analytic tools, benchmarks, and services to the healthcare industry. Hospitals, government agencies, employers, health plans, clinicians, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies have relied on us for more than 30 years. We combine our deep clinical, financial, and healthcare management expertise with innovative technology platforms and information assets to make healthcare better by collaborating with our customers to uncover and realize opportunities for improving quality, efficiency, and outcomes. With more than 2,000 employees globally, we have major offices in Ann Arbor, Mich.; Chicago; and Denver. Advantage Suite, Micromedex, ActionOI, MarketScan, and 100 Top Hospitals are registered trademarks or trademarks of Truven Health Analytics. For more information, please visit www.truvenhealth.com.