Two Commonwealth Fund–supported studies in the new issue of Health Affairs examine national survey data on medical home initiatives and accountable care organizations.
Patient-Centered Medical Home Initiatives Expanded in 2009–13: Providers, Patients, and Payment Incentives Increased, by Samuel Edwards, Asaf Bitton, Johan Hong, and Bruce E. Landon. In comparing survey findings for 2009 and 2013, the researchers found a fourfold increase in both the number of patient-centered medical home initiatives and the number of patients enrolled in them.
Few ACOs Pursue Innovative Models That Integrate Care for Mental Illness and Substance Abuse with Primary Care, by Valerie A. Lewis, Carrie H. Colla, Katherine Tierney, Arica D. Van Citters, Elliott S. Fisher, and Ellen Meara. Integrating primary care and behavioral health services can improve patients’ outcomes and help control costs, but few have approached complete integration. Moreover, a one-third have no formal relationships with behavioral health care providers.