Medical Home

Issue Defined

"A setting that facilitates partnerships between individual patients and their personal physicians, and when appropriate, the patient's family."

-AAP, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Physicians, and American Osteopathic Association

Recommendations

In incorporating the Medical Home model, the relationship between patients and primary care providers is strengthened, enhancing the overall quality of care. Elements in our approach include:

• A personal physician
• A physician directed medical practice
• Whole person orientation
• Care coordinated and /or integrated across all elements of the health care system
• Enhanced access to care
• New models and pilots of provider reimbursement
• Expanded use of technology
• Leveraged use of the roles of health plans and providers

Savings Outlook

A 2004 national study by the Annals of Family Medicine estimated that if all Americans had a medical home, health care costs could drop as much as 5.6% or $67 billion annually.