Hilltop Presents Findings of Study on Substance Use Disorder Care Coordination Targets Using Latent Class Analysis

Hilltop Senior Research Analyst Michael Abrams, MPH, presented the findings of a study to elucidate coordination of care targets within Maryland’s Medicaid population of persons with substance use disorders. The presentation was made to Baltimore Substance Abuse Systems, Inc. (bSAS) leadership and their consultants on February 24th, 2012. BSAS, the public substance use authority in Baltimore City, is funding this work. The study uses a novel statistical technique – Latent Class Analysis (LCA) – to discern mutually exclusive and relatively homogenous subgroups of Medicaid enrollees with such disorders. This implementation of the LCA technique relies on Medicaid administrative data corresponding to demographic, enrollment category, utilization, state expenditure, and diagnostic information in order to identify 10 subgroups of persons with substance use disorders of various types. The results of this study will guide future work regarding the design of “medical homes” for such persons, with special focus on the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Abrams is the lead on this work, with substantial research and programming support by Policy Analyst Seung Ouk Kim, PhD, and Senior Programmer Jayne Miller, B.S. To view the full presentation with supporting tabulations and definitions, click here.

March 1, 2012