Very encouraging Medicaid PCMH update

  Far exceeding expectations, 34% of Medicaid members are now being cared for in person-centered medical homes according to DSS and CHNCT’s presentations at today’s meeting of the Medicaid Council’s Care Management PCMH Committee. There are almost 1000 primary care providers (between approved, accreditation eligible, and glide path status) receiving higher Medicaid payment rates to…

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Medicaid Council new site and meeting update

The Medicaid Oversight Council has a new, comprehensive website. It is now easy to find the calendar for the Council and its many committees, presentations, quarterly reports, agendas, minutes, legislation, and program information. A huge step forward in transparency and sharing information that can improve health. Many many thanks to Council staff. Last week’s Council…

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PCMH workforce conference offers lessons for CT

Yesterday’s conference on patient-centered medical homes and workforce brought speakers from other RI, MA and Pittsburg together with CT programs to share best practices and lessons learned. Take aways included baking training into all activities and for every member of the team. It is also critical to begin training well before NCQA recognition. And training…

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Resources on PCMHs and health equity

Care coordination is only one aspect of patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) that can have a large impact in promoting health equity. PCMHs are primary care practices that create partnerships among a team of providers that serve and support consumers in improving their own health. In addition to care coordination, PCMHs track the population health needs…

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Update on patient-centered medical homes in CT

A recent CT Health Foundation blog highlights progress toward building patient-centered medical homes in our state. The post outlines initiatives by DSS, the CT State Medical Society, ProHealth, Qualidigm, the Community Health Centers Association of CT, CHC Inc., and Community Health Network. CT now has 730 NCQA certified PCMHs and that number is growing.

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Medical Society pilot guides practices to PCMH recognition

A pilot training and support program has helped 13 small CT primary care practices, with 105 physicians plus clinical and administrative staff, achieve NCQA patient-centered medical home (PCMH) recognition. Six other practices have applications pending. Those practices join the growing list of 600 recognized PCMH providers in CT as first adopters of this important delivery…

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Courant OP-ED raises concerns about Medicaid PCMH proposal

An Opinion piece in today’s Hartford Courant by Sheldon Toubman of New Haven legal aid outlines many problems with DSS’ proposal for person-centered medical homes. PCMHs have been used by payers, including many other state Medicaid programs and CT’s state employee plan, to improve the effectiveness of health care, reduce duplications and errors and rein…

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State chooses CHN to run Medicaid

The administration announced that they will be negotiating with Community Health Network to administer the entire state Medicaid program as of January 1st. Based on the state’s community health centers, CHN has been a participating managed care provider for HUSKY since its inception sixteen years ago. The managed care program will expand beyond the current…

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CT Health Policy Project comments on DSS proposal for Medicaid person-centered medical homes

To implement the administration’s directive to develop person/patient-centered medical homes for every Medicaid consumer, DSS has proposed a payment model very different from other successful state programs. CTHPP has submitted comments on the proposal including concerns about reliance on retrospective enhanced fee-for-service and P4P payments, the lack of risk adjustment, opaque incentives, and a weak…

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NC employers buying into Medicaid patient-centered medical home system, CT NASW job posting

NC’s Medicaid patient-centered medical home network is so successful that large employers, including state employees, in the state are buying in for their workers. Bucking the private HMO-style managed care trend of other states in Medicaid, NC has had impressive improvements with a community-based PCMH network in improving access to and quality of care while…

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