The Economics of Patient-Centered Medical Homes
The increasing prevalence of chronic illnesses and mounting associated costs are major concerns for the US healthcare system. Along with other reforms, considerable attention has been devoted to efforts to restructure primary care with the goal of improving the coordination of care. One model for reform which has generated considerable attention is the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH). Despite numerous pilot projects and extensive efforts at evaluating the PCMH, the evidence regarding the model’s impacts on patient experience, utilization and expenditures remains mixed. This session features three papers making important progress in understanding the determinants of PCMH diffusion, its impact on specialty spending and its configuration.