PCMH programs cut costs and improve quality. Collaboration is the key to their success

Reviews of patient-centered medical homes suggest that they lead to lower costs and improved care quality, but a significant investment in primary care and strong payer-provider collaboration is key to success.

The Patient-Centered Primary Care Collective (PCPCC) released its sixth report on PCMHs Monday, and researchers at the Robert Graham Center found overall positive results in cost reduction, quality improvement and utilization, but not uniformly. The team reviewed 46 peer-reviewed studies and some grey literature as well to determine the state of PCMH programs across the country.

There is bipartisan support for improving primary care, said Ann Greiner, president and CEO of PCPCC, at a briefing to mark the report’s release, but there is more work to be done.