Patient Centered Medical Homes in National Health

Patient centered medical homes (PCMHs) are prominently featured in both the current
House and Senate versions of health reform. Medical homes are not buildings or hospitals,
but a different way of practicing medicine. Medical homes offer coordinated, comprehensive
primary health care that is accessible, continuous, compassionate, culturally appropriate, and
patient-centered. Coordination of care can reduce duplicate tests and prevent errors in
conflicting treatment when patients have several doctors. Care is personalized for each
patient and delivered by a team of professionals who put the patient and their needs at the
center of care. Proponents argue that medical homes can reduce health care spending,
improve health status, support disease management and prevention, improve the quality of
care, reduce medical errors, and reduce racial and ethnic health disparities.

View Resource: 20091218_med_homes_fed_reform 2.pdf