A medical home is an enhanced model of primary care which provides whole person, comprehensive, ongoing and coordinated patient-centered care. First advanced by the American Academy of Pediatrics in the 1960’s, the concept gained momentum in 2007 when four major physician groups agreed to a common view of the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model defined by seven “Joint Principles.” Supporters of the PCMH model have joined together to form the Patient Centered Primary Care Collaborative (PCPCC). NASHP has partnered with the PCPCC to help improve the delivery of primary care in state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP).
The Commonwealth Fund provides the primary support for NASHP’s work with state Medicaid and CHIP programs to implement policies that advance the medical home. In 2007-2009, NASHP worked with eight leading states (Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Oregon and Washington) to identify, develop and disseminate policy options for increasing program participants’ access to high performing medical homes. In 2009-2010, we are supporting eight new states (Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, Texas and Virginia) by providing them with technical assistance, including in-person and distance learning opportunities. The federal Health Resources and Services Administration, John Snow, Inc., and the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs have provided additional support for NASHP’s work in this area.
