A Minnesota program kept 11% of nursing home patients from becoming permanent residents by emphasizing care coordination and ensuring they had enough support to return home.

A Purdue University-led review of the publicly funded Return to Community Initiative found that management and networking led to the program’s success. It also showed an annual savings of about $3.9 million over four years, which was just over the program’s annual budget of $3.5 million. The initiative began in 2010.

“It is at least paying for itself,” said Zachary Hass, Ph.D., an assistant professor at Purdue’s and faculty member for the Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering.

Hass’ team reviewed the data of 18,488 Minnesota nursing home residents who were admitted between April 2014 and December 2016, and were non-Medicaid at admission and remained in the nursing home for at least 45 days.

RTCI works with residents on Medicare or private-pay insurance and is coordinated by aging agencies in six geographic areas.

“RTCI facilitates discussion between the nursing home, home- and community-based service providers, families and the person needing the care to come up with a person-centered plan for living at home,” said Kari Benson, executive director for the Minnesota Board on Aging. “It helps people know they have a choice.”