The Patient Centered Medical Home model studies continue to show positive improvements in impacting cost, quality and population health, according to PCPCC’s (Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative) annual report. The annual report, The Patient-Centered Medical Home’s Impact on Cost & Quality: An Annual Update of the Evidence, 2012-2013 highlights recently published clinical, quality, and financial outcomes of patient centered medical home (PCMH) initiatives from across the United States.
Report findings show that the PCMH model is having a significant impact on reducing costs of care, unnecessary emergency department (ED) and hospital visits, as well as increasing the provision of preventive services and improving population health. 60 percent of the PCMH evaluations reported decreases in cost of care or use of unnecessary / avoidable services, while approximately 30% reported improvements in population health. A gap still exists in reporting impact on clinician satisfaction.
PCMH = Foundation of High Performing ACOs
The PCMH model continues to play a role in strengthening the larger health care system, specifically Accountable Care Organizations and the emerging medical neighborhood model. The report acknowledges PCMHs must be part of a larger delivery system reform and integration efforts to successfully improve population health, cost effectiveness and better patient experience.
Currently, high performing ACOs have embraced PCMHs as a key component and as a result are well-positioned to lead and drive change across ACOs. Additionally, significant payment reforms are incorporating the PCMH model and its key attributes.
Background
Supported by the Milbank Memorial Fund, the report analyzed quantitative outcomes across 20 medical home evaluations from August 2012-2013, including thirteen peer-review and seven industry-generated evaluations
Although the evidence is early from an academic perspective, and the report does not represent a formal peer-reviewed meta-analysis of the literature, the expanding body of research provided here suggests that when fully transformed primary care practices have embraced the PCMH model of care, we find a number of consistent, positive outcomes.
To view/download the executive summary and annual report, visit http://www.pcpcc.org/resource/medical-homes-impact-cost-quality
