Specialty care medical homes for people with severe, persistent mental disorders

• Published in: Health Affairs Vol. 29; no. 5; pp. 867 - 873
• Main Authors: Alakeson, Vidhya, Frank, Richard G, Katz, Ruth E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The People to People Health Foundation, Inc., Project HOPE 01.05.2010
• Subjects: Chronic illnesses; Collaboration; Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; Health care; Health care delivery; Health care policy; Humans; Low income groups; Medicaid; Medical practices; Mental disorders; Mental Disorders - classification; Mental Disorders - therapy; Mental health; Mental health care; Mental Health Services - organization & administration; Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act 2010-US; Patient-Centered Care - methods; Patients; Primary care; Primary Health Care - organization & administration; Reimbursement; Reimbursement Mechanisms; Schizophrenia; Severity of Illness Index; Studies; United States > US
• ISSN: 0278-2715; 1544-5208
• DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2010.0080

The patient-centered medical home concept is central to discussions about the reform of the health care delivery system. Most descriptions of the concept assume that a primary care practice would serve as the hub of the medical home. However, for people with severe and persistent mental disorders, specialty health care settings serve as the principal point of contact with the health care system. For them, a patient-centered medical home in a specialty setting would be the most expedient way to address their urgent health care needs. Among other issues, implementing this idea would mean reimbursement strategies to support the integration and coordination of primary care in specialty settings.