A new study led by a Carnegie Mellon University researcher has found that a case management program for seriously ill patients resulted in lower costs and fewer hospital admissions.

Patient satisfaction scores were high even as overall costs dropped by 26 percent and hospital admissions by 38 percent, according to the study, published in the February edition of The American Journal of Managed Care.

The 18-month study of Blue Shield of California HMO members examined the program's impact on people with illnesses like late-stage cancers.

Half of the 756 study participants received typical case management services, while the other half, known as the patient-centered management group, also received access to a nurse care manager, nurse team manager and physician through ParadigmHealth, a care management company. Nurse team members made home visits and worked with patients to understand their disease and options for treatment, pain management and end-of-life decision-making.

Survival rates were the same for both groups, though many cancer patients in the patient-centered management group opted against further chemotherapy or radiation treatments. People in that group also had a 22 percent increase in home care, had 62 percent more days in hospice care and suffered fewer treatment complications such as nausea. Emergency room visits also were reduced by 30 percent.

"This is great news for those in this population who typically face some of the most expensive, complex health care needs," said Latanya Sweeney, director of Carnegie Mellon's Data Privacy Lab and the study's lead author. Other authors included Dr. Andrew Halpert and Joan Waranoff of Blue Shield of California.