Case management and the cost of care in the last month of life: evidence from one managed care setting

Abstract

Elderly, functionally disabled enrollees in a managed care organization were randomly assigned to case management or regular care. The service use and cost of care for the last month life for the case managed deceased is compared with that of the regular care group. The results suggest that contrary to general expectation, the managed care clients experienced greater use and costs of care in the last month of life.