The Patient-Centered Medical Home initiative: Craven & Ober Policy Strategists, LLC.

摘要

Enactment of the national Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act last March and the ensuing legal challenges regarding its constitutionality have created more uncertainty for the health care industry. Some things are certain, however. We have unrelenting and escalating health care costs brought on in part by an underperforming, highly fragmented health care delivery system and poor quality of care. Even prior to passage of the national health care reform law, primary care organizations had been touting the promise of the "Patient-Centered Medical Home" (PCMH) model. Over the past 2 years, advocacy for the model by patient and consumer groups and medical organizations has resulted in keen interest and support among many policymakers. This shift in focus will impact the delivery system in many ways, while the evidence for the model's clinical efficacy, quality improvement, and cost-effectiveness remains to be demonstrated, mostly through pilot programs at this time.