Evaluation of Mountain Health Choices: Implementation, Challenges, and Recommendations

This report analyzes West Virginia's Mountain Health Choices Medicaid program which allowed enrollees to elect enhanced coverage if they sign an agreement committing to certain preventative health care measures. 

From the report:

Summary: This report analyzes the West Virginia Medicaid program’s Mountain Health Choices plan, which provides enhanced coverage and benefits to Medicaid enrollees willing to embrace personal responsibility and sign an agreement specifying their rights and responsibilities.  The analysis found that the personal accountability paradigm had little success with the seriously mentally ill because they were either unwilling or unable to enter into the agreement necessary to secure the enhanced coverage.  The study also determined that the medical home model—a key component of the program—was not compatible with the state’s mental health treatment model which focused on acute care.  In addition, the analysis found that these issues resulted in a generally lower level of care for the plan’s mental health clients because the non-enhanced mental health services were less comprehensive than traditional Medicaid.

West Virginia University Institute for Health Policy Research, & Mathematica Policy Research Inc. (2009). Evaluation of mountain health choices: implementation, challenges, and recommendations. 

Full report: http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/wvhealthpolicy/reports/RWJ%20Policy%20Brief%20FINAL%2003.27.09.pdf