Patient-Centered Medical Homes Can Improve Care, Reduce Costs; Independence Blue Cross Medical Executive Discusses Innovative PA Program With Nation's Health Care Pol...(olders -- patients physicians insurers a...),Health

"We must emphasize quality and value in health care -- giving people the tools they need to better understand their own health care needs, live healthier lives, and navigate the system to seek out the best value for every dollar they spend," says Dr. Snyder. "With the medical home model, doctors can better engage with their patients, helping them become more accountable for their own health, and ultimately feel healthier."

Dr. Snyder highlighted the progress of Southeastern Pennsylvania's Collaborative as part of the state's Chronic Care Initiative. The Collaborative, which includes 32 primary care practices, is the first of its kind in the nation where competing health plans -- commercial, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid -- work with health care providers and regional health care leaders to create a unified way to pay physicians that more closely aligns incentives with how they deliver care and improve patient experiences and health outcomes.

According to Dr. Snyder, the Collaborative is now among the largest of its type in the country, with more than 220,000 patients enrolled in the first of four scheduled rollouts across the Commonwealth. Physician interest has been very high and a number of practices are successfully implementing patient report systems in their offices to help identify patient needs to better manage conditions like diabetes or asthma. To complement this effort, IBC is launching a Clinical Alert program -- available to participating network providers -- that electronically notifies physicians at the time of an appointment when a patient has missed an important health screening test or hasn't been taking his or her medications as prescribed, based on IBC's medical, lab, and pharmacy data.

Also, with the help of health coaches trained in qualit
'/>"/>