The health care system in the United States is in a state of transition, as innovations and policy shifts disrupt longstanding practices and move health care providers toward shared accountability for health outcomes and value. New payment structures are spreading financial risk more widely, for example, by introducing new forms of capitation and incentive payments for reduced utilization, patient satisfaction and positive health outcomes. Now, payers and providers who perhaps never gave much thought to patients’ lives outside the formal health care system are beginning to see reflected in their own bottom lines the impact of social and environmental factors on health and access to care.

In addition, there is an increasing focus on better care for people in high-risk situations, both to improve outcomes and reduce avoidable costs. In light of this changing environment, collaborations between disability and aging service providers and health care and health care partners illustrate both the potential benefit for people with disabilities and older adults and opportunities for reducing health care costs.

This Success Story, produced by the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF), highlights the partnership of the FREED Independent Living Center and the Area Agency on Aging in Sacramento, CA, a collaborative that is uniquely positioned to respond to opportunities presented by the changing health care environment described above. These organizations came together to form an Aging and Disability Resource Collaborative (ADRC), which serves as a streamlined and user-friendly method to access long-term services and supports for consumers.

Read the Success Story below to learn how the ADRC was able to partner with various local health care entities to deliver the Care Transitions Intervention (CTI)® and Integrated Care Coordination services.

FREED Center for Independent Living and the Sacramento, CA Area Agency on Aging