Senators question effectiveness of medical homes

In the health plan world--and among some policymakers--a consensus is growing that giving patients a medical home is a necessity in improving the overall effectiveness of the healthcare system. The medical home model, which calls for ongoing care to be managed and coordinated by a primary care physician, is assumed to be a better way of making sure patients get their full roster of preventive care, and don't fall through the cracks when they develop problems.

However, that consensus wasn't in evidence at a recent hearing held by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee this week. "There are concerns about  how to best design and implement such a model," according to Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH). Some Senators believe that requiring physician referral for specialty services, which some models propose, would introduce extra cost and add burdens to patients seeking care.

One speaker argued that primary care providers aren't always the best stewards of coordinating care. "We should think in terms of having a principal provider and not always assume it will be a primary care provider," said Steve Schlossberg, chairman of the health policy council for the American Urological Association.

To learn more about this debate:
- read this Modern Healthcare piece [1] (reg. req.)

Related Articles:
Primary care groups issue medical home guidelines [2]
NY health plans begin medical home effort [3]
UnitedHealth tests medical home model in AZ [4]
Health plans, MD groups plan 'medical home' project [5]