Medical homes: cost effects of utilization by chronically ill patients.

Objectives: The impact of primary care practices adopting the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model is analyzed by comparing per member per month (PMPM) costs and utilization among commercial HMO members with chronic illnesses in PCMH and non-PCHM practices in the Philadelphia area. Transforming primary care practices to conform to the PCMH model has shown early promise in reducing costs and improving outcomes, and chronically ill patients' frequent contact with the healthcare system and costly care make them ideal targets for such health system reforms.

Study Design And Methods: The impact of the PCMH model on PMPM costs was analyzed using a generalized linear regression model to adjust for age, gender, and baseline cost.

Medical homes and cost and utilization among high-risk patients.

Objectives: Evaluate the effects of the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model on medical costs and utilization in the nonpediatric population, particularly among high-risk patients.

Study Design: Longitudinal case-control design, comparing per member per month (PMPM) cost and utilization per 1000 patients for members enrolled in PCMH and non-PCMH practices from 2009 to 2011.

Methods: Commercial health maintenance organization members in nonpediatric practices that adopted the PCMH model in 2009 were matched to patients in nonpediatric practices that did not adopt the model until 2011 or later.

Patient-centered medical home impact on health plan members with diabetes.

Objective: To compare costs and utilization for patients with diabetes enrolled in patient-centered medical home (PCMH) practices and non-PCMH practices.

Design: Commercial Health Maintenance Organization members with diabetes who enrolled between 2008 and 2011 in 26 Pennsylvania-based PCMH practices that were recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance in 2009 were compared with similar patients in 97 non-PCMH primary care practices. A difference-in-differences longitudinal research design was used to analyze differences between both groups on per-member, per-month costs and utilization.