Provider Experiences with a Payer-Based PCMH Program.

Background: The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is an enhanced primary care model that aims to improve quality of care. Over the past several years, the PCMH model has been adopted by Medicare and private payers, which offer financial resources and technical assistance to participating practices. However, few studies have examined provider experiences and perspectives on the adoption of payer-based PCMH models in different practice settings.

Quality of Care and Preventive Screening Use in the CareFirst Patient-Centered Medical Home Program.

Despite their value, comprehensive diabetes care and screening for common cancers remain underutilized. We examined the association between participation in a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) program with strong financial incentives and receipt of preventive care in the first 5 years after program launch. Using multivariate regression analysis, we compared outcomes for adults under the care of participating primary care providers (PCPs) with adults under the care of nonparticipating PCPs.

Medical Home Implementation in Small Primary Care Practices: Provider Perspectives.

Background: CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield of Maryland implemented a voluntary patient-centered medical home (PCMH) program in 2011 that did not require formal certification to participate. This study assessed attitudes and awareness of PCMH programs among participating providers in Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Methods: This qualitative study used information from 13 focus groups.

The CareFirst Patient-Centered Medical Home Program: Cost and Utilization Effects in Its First Three Years.

Background: Enhanced primary care models have diffused slowly and shown uneven results. Because their structural features are costly and challenging for small practices to implement, they offer modest rewards for improved performance, and improvement takes time.

Objective: To test whether a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model that significantly rewarded cost savings and accommodated small primary care practices was associated with lower spending, fewer hospital admissions, and fewer emergency room visits.

Disease management in the frail and elderly population: integration of physicians in the intervention.

As financial, social, and quality-of-life challenges associated with chronic disease in the United States continue to proliferate, disease management (DM) has been identified as a viable and positive approach that serves all areas of impact. Using an "in-house" model, Physician Health Partners, LLC, designed, developed, and implemented a DM program for the frail and elderly population. Given the special needs of this population the typical DM intervention was modified to include elements of physician involvement.