POST-ACUTE TRANSITIONS FOR TRADITIONAL MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS

Patients with complex social and behavioral health conditions, including those with serious mental illness (SMI), represent a growing proportion of skilled nursing facility (SNF) patients. However, they may not benefit equally from the improved relational coordination that comes from volume-drive preferred provider networks. In a cross-sectional analysis using Medicare claims data, we find that patients with SMI experience reduced access to preferred SNF partners. This effect was reversed when patients with SMI also had a co-occurring condition targeted by value-based payment programs. The evolving post-acute landscape requires more widespread administrative and clinical collaborative efforts that benefit consumers with complex needs.