Patient-Centered Medical Homes Improve Access and Quality of Care

Amerigroup Corporation (NYSE: AGP) is working with hundreds of physicians in six states on a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) pilot program that is helping doctors improve access and quality of care for their patients. 
 
According to the latest Patient Centered Primary Care Collaborative (PCPCC) report, Amerigroup currently ranks 8th nationally for the number of providers participating in the PCMH pilot program, and is the only plan in the top ten that is solely dedicated to serving public beneficiaries.  Amerigroup’s PCMH strategy requires focused, on-the-ground training and collaboration with its providers, and is creating an innovative delivery system for its members in an effort to produce better outcomes, higher quality care and lower costs.

In Nashville alone, approximately 40,000 Amerigroup members are participating in a PCMH. With a strong focus on provider collaboration and continuity of care, this initiative is improving quality and access for thousands of members, while reducing non-emergent E.R. visits and hospital readmissions.  For example, the Metro Center Health Group in Nashville has decreased its patients ER visits by 7% for the first six months of 2011 versus the same period in 2010. 

Dr. William G. Runyon, Chief Medical Officer for Amerigroup Tennessee said, “With many patients seeking most of their medical care in emergency rooms, we have had a real challenge controlling costs and improving quality care.” Dr. Runyon added, “By using the PCMH model to facilitate a stronger relationship between primary care providers and their patients, we have seen significant improvements in our providers’ abilities to reduce ER visits and hospital admissions, ultimately resulting in better outcomes for our members.”