Patient-Centered Medical Home Growing Among Medicaid Practices

The patient-centered medical home, a hands-on practice of primary care which emphasizes doctor-patient relationships and patient engagement, is of growing popularity among healthcare organizations. A form of accountable care, the patient-centered medical home is an approach adopted by different care organizations which allows them to engage in care coordination. Various organizations provide certification for PCMHs.

In a recent study by Virginia Commonwealth University, it’s clear that many primary care providers who work with Medicaid beneficiaries provide care that aligns with the goals of the PCMH.

The study, which used data from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, tested five different factors which indicate an ACO as a patient-centered medical home. Those factors were serving multiple healthcare needs, accessibility of phone contact, extended office hours, coordination of prescriptions, and shared decision-making between the patient and the physician.

“Most Medicaid beneficiaries with no other coverage and a continuing source of primary care described the care they receive as consistent with at least three of five key attributes of the patient-centered medical home model,” the VCU reported in a press release.

The study also looked at the different demographics who reported care consistent with a PCMH, including those of higher or lower income, older or younger, and healthier or less healthy.