Pennsylvania

In response to Pennsylvania’s growing chronic disease burden and its impact on healthcare spending, the Governor issued Executive Order 2007-05 on May 21, 2007. This order created the Pennsylvania Chronic Care Management, Reimbursement and Cost Reduction Commission, also known as the Chronic Care Commission. The Commission proposed and then implemented the Pennsylvania Chronic Care Initiative (CCI) designed to achieve four strategic goals:

  • Widespread use of a new primary care reimbursement model that rewards PCMH care based on the Chronic Care Model.
  • Broad dissemination of the Chronic Care Model to primary care practices across Pennsylvania, through regional chronic care learning collaboratives. 
  • Achievement of tangible and measurable improvement in patiient satisfaction, access to care, health outcomes and quality of life.
  • Reduction in the cost of providing chronic care with the reduction of avoidable hospitalizations and emergency room visits and mechanisms to ensure that some of the savings are realized by all entities paying for health care. 

The first rollout (Southeast PA) started in May 2008 and six more learning collaboratives were launched through December 2009, involving a total of 152 mostly small and medium-size primary care practices and 640 providers (75% of the practices have 5 or fewer FTE providers). In four of PA’s seven regions, 17 payers, including Medicaid, provided $30 million in infrastructure payments to practices to support transformation. Since 2009, the state’s contracts with Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) have required MCOs to participate in the CCI. Phase II of the CCI began in January 2012 with funding from the Multi-payer Advanced Primary Care Practice demonstration.

CHIPRA: 
Yes
MAPCP: 
No
Dual Eligible: 
No
2703 Health Home: 
No
CPCi: 
No
SIM Awards: 
Yes
PCMH in QHP: 
No
Legislative PCMH Initiative: 
Yes
Private Payer Program: 
Yes
State Facts: 
Population:
12,759,200
Uninsured Population:
10%
Total Medicaid Spending FY 2013: 
$21.0 Billion 
Overweight/Obese Adults:
64.5%
Poor Mental Health among Adults: 
35.5%
Medicaid Expansion: 
Yes

House Bill 1655

The law establishes a Patient-Centered Medical Home Advisory Council, provides powers and duties of the council, and provides for the development of a plan to implement a statewide medical home model. 

Guthrie And Blue Cross Of Northeastern Pennsylvania Launch Patient Centered Medical Home Pilot

Two regional health care organizations are working to improve quality and better manage health care costs for local patients. Guthrie and Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BCNEPA) recently joined together to launch a Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) pilot program with Guthrie Medical Group primary care physician practices in Pennsylvania.

The PCMH model is part of the evolution of the health care industry toward accountable care and the transformation of Guthrie’s health delivery to meet the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Triple Aim goals: 

Executive Order 2007-05

This Executive Order created the Pennsylvania Chronic Care Management, Reimbursement and Cost Reduction Commission, also known as the Chronic Care Commission. The Chronic Care Commission subsequently developed the framework for the Pennsylvania Chronic Care Initiative. 

Coordinating All Resources Effectively (CARE) - Pennsylvania

Children’s National Health System has been named a recipient of a Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) award to improve health care delivery for children with complex medical needs.  The grant, aimed at advancing care coordination models, was awarded to the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) and 10 pediatric hospital partners.

New Highmark plan comes with member discounts

New Highmark health insurance plans offer member discounts for seeing doctors using a team approach in providing care.

News Author: 
Kris B. Mamula

Transforming safety net practices into patient-centered medical homes

A recently concluded demonstration project made meaningful progress toward introducing a "patient-centered medical home" approach at "safety net" practices serving vulnerable and underserved populations. Lessons learned in the course of developing and implementing the Safety Net Medical Home Initiative (SNMHI) are featured in a special November supplement to Medical Care.

From ‘My’ Patient to ‘Our’ Patient: How New Models Are Transforming Care in Central Pennsylvania

Proactively addressing the challenge of improving the health of individuals and communities across Central Pennsylvania, WellSpan Health is establishing patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) in its primary care practices.

The PCMH model engages providers to partner with patients to help them achieve their health goals — rather than merely treating patients when they have illnesses or injuries.

News Author: 
Michael Ferguson

Independence Blue Cross Study in Health Service Research Finds Fewer Emergency Room Visits for Chronically Ill Patients Treated in Patient-Centered Medical Homes

Largest study of its kind shows nearly an 8 percent reduction in emergency visits, primarily for those with diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure

A study authored by Independence Blue Cross (Independence) and CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services (CTI) demonstrating fewer emergency department visits for chronically ill patients cared for in a patient-centered medical home has been published by Health Services Research. Health Services Research is a peer-reviewed journal published by Health Research and Educational Trust, and is the official publication of Academy Health which publishes original investigations that expand understanding of the wide-ranging field of health care.

Geisinger Health System launches ProvenWellness Neighborhood

Scranton pilot program awarded multiple grants

Geisinger Health System’s ProvenWellness Neighborhood, a model of care that will focus on individuals who are uninsured or under-insured with critical health care needs, recently launched in the Scranton community. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation awarded a $600,000 grant to support the implementation of the program. The Scranton Area Foundation awarded a $10,000 grant.

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