OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study aims to investigate the impact of disease management on:a) increasing awareness among clinicians to prescribe evidence-based medicines for the treatment of heart failure (HF); b) reducing healthcare utilisation; and c) improving clinical outcomes, for patients enrolled in the NHG Heart Failure Disease Management Programme. METHODS: HF patients with LVEF < 50% and/or documented diastolic dysfunction, and who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were recruited into the Programme. These patients received education and close monitoring by case managers, through telemanagement and follow-up at HF Clinic. The rate of prescription for ACE Inhibitors (ACEI)/ARB and beta-blockers were tracked at regular intervals after the implementation of the Programme. Average length of hospital stay (ALOS), percentage of outlier episodes, average outlier days, and cost per inpatient episode were compared in patients who were enrolled in the Programme and those who were not. Analysis was also conducted on the rate of improvement in patients' clinical outcomes 6 months after their enrolment into the Programme. RESULTS: A total of 1313 patients were enrolled into the Programme from October 2002 – June 2005. Interim evaluation revealed an upward trend in the usage of ACEI/ARB from 88.9% in March 2003 to 93.8% in June 2005, while beta-blocker usage remained constant (79.0% and 77.6% respectively). Patients who were managed in a disease management programme achieved better results than patients who were managed in the usual manner, in: a) ALOS (4.7 days versus 5.3 days); b) Percentage of Outlier Episodes (6.6% versus 9.0%); c) Average Outlier Days (6.8 days versus 7.0 days); and d) Cost per Inpatient Episode (12.6% lower). 76.7% of the patients showed improvement in their NYHA Class Status, 6 months after enrolment. CONCLUSIONS: Disease management has proven to be an effective approach in the management of HF patients in the National Healthcare Group, Singapore.