Alternative approaches to caring for complex patients show promise.

Providers have long complained that traditional managed care systems fail to the meet the needs of highly complex cases; the typical time constraints, reimbursement rates, and utilization management patterns are simply inadequate, in many cases, to keep such persons stabilized and out of the hospital. But now there is proof that there may, indeed, be a better way to manage these cases so that patients will be more satisfied, costs will be reduced, and outcomes improved. Sound too good to be true? Check out the "plan within a plan" concept implemented at Massachusetts-based Neighborhood Health Plan.