# Understanding Early Intervention Value: Investigating the Effect of a Statewide Care Coordination Model on EI Resource Use and Outcomes

> **NIH AHRQ R01** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2020 · $400,000

## Abstract

Abstract
Infants and toddlers with functional limitations are an important population because they represent a
prevalent (i.e. 17% of children) and costly group that warrants greater attention on value-based delivery of
developmental and therapeutic (i.e., physical therapy) services. The most common therapy service delivery
system for this population is Part C Early Intervention (EI), which cost the federal government $460 Million
in 2017. Family-centered care coordination (FC-CC) is a federal EI mandate and the “lynchpin” of value-
based pediatric service delivery. Yet, little is known about how states comply with their FC-CC mandate or
how FC-CC influences EI child and family outcomes. We propose to fill the knowledge gaps surrounding
the provision and implementation of FC-CC using a mixed methods approach. First, we seek to understand
the effect of a statewide EI FC-CC model called Global Outcomes for Infants and Toddlers (GO4IT). GO4IT
integrates family assessment, care planning processes, outcomes measurement with the goal of identifying
salient family needs, individualizing service type and intensity, and improving global measures of child
function. Our quantitative analysis will use state EI administrative databases for Colorado (n≈ 75,600) and
Massachusetts (n≈ 78,500) and is in the context of state-wide implementation of GO4IT, which provide an
“exogenous shock” to value-based EI service delivery that allows us to examine changes in EI service use
and outcomes before and after GO4IT. The implementation of GO4IT is analogous to a “natural experiment”
with a treatment state, Colorado, which implemented GO4IT during the sample period, and a comparison
state which did not (Massachusetts). We hypothesize that GO4IT will result faster time to treatment success
(Aim 1), better outcomes and less spending (Aim 2) compared to EI service delivery in MA. Yet, testing this
hypothesis requires an examination of more than utilization, cost, and outcomes. Thus, our qualitative study
(Aim 3) will provide a more nuanced picture of specific FC-CC activities in which EI programs are engaged
and allow us to define and assess specific approaches. In doing so we seek to provide evidenced-based
recommendations as a guide for EI programs who strive to improve the value of their programs. In Aim 3,
we will conduct about 30 interviews with EI stakeholders (state EI coordinator and data manager, EI
providers, and parents in CO and MA [representing 5-6 influential EI program catchment areas per state] to
determine FC-CC mechanisms, successes, and best practices. GO4IT is one example of a service delivery
package designed to best meet the needs of families while also providing information for families and EI
providers to promote family engagement in care planning and optimal outcomes. Given the dearth of
evidence we hope our study provides evidence that is used to inform future efforts to implement family-
centered care coordination programs. The proposal aligns with...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10028162
- **Project number:** 1R01HS027583-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** Beth Marie McManus
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** AHRQ
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $400,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10028162

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10028162, Understanding Early Intervention Value: Investigating the Effect of a Statewide Care Coordination Model on EI Resource Use and Outcomes (1R01HS027583-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10028162. Licensed CC0.

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