Decision Support and
Management Information Systems

Standard

The Health Plan should develop and maintain a database which can track utilization and outcomes for Latino consumers across all levels of care. It should also develop and manage databases of social and mental health indicators on the covered population of Latinos and the Latino community at large.

Implementation Guidelines

• Data linkages with corrections, juvenile justice, education, social services, substance abuse, developmental disability, primary care plan, and public health should be established to cross-system utilization information on the mental health status of Latinos.

• For purposes of accountability, the Health Plan should report to the governing entity, in a regular and timely manner, performance and outcome data specific to Latino consumers and families

• Data should be current, accurate, disaggregated, and include gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, linguistic proficiency, geographic area, and sexual orientation (at the consumer’s option).

• Data findings should be used to continually assess, improve, and inform strategic planning for services to Latino consumers and families.

• The Latino ethnicity category should be broad and inclusive, including a capacity to code all and multiple Latino subgroups and those of mixed race/ethnicity. The Latino category should be distinct and monitored separately even when consistent with U.S. Census Bureau practice.

• The Health Plan should track diagnostic and assessment information, service utilization trends, drop-outs, and utilization patterns across modalities, as well as behavioral and functional outcomes.

• Individual consumer data should be kept confidential with data sets coded in such a manner that client cannot be identified.
  

Recommended Performance Indicators

• Presence of a data system inclusive of the above mentioned elements.

• Use of a unified clinical record across all levels of care to facilitate data collection and tracking.

• Regular reporting of performance and outcome indicators to the governing entity.
  

Recommended Outcomes

• Timely and accurate consumer data which provides for tracking across age and race ethnicity
  
  Benchmark: 90% satisfaction

• Timely transition of data to enhance continuity of care
  
  Benchmark: Real time authorizations for services

• More focused preventive and service planning for Latino consumers
  
  Benchmark: Increased specialized and preventive services to at-risk consumers

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