Relationship of clinic medical home scores to health care costs

Abstract

Multilevel, multivariate models examined the relationship between Primary Care Medical Home (PCMH) practice systems as measured by the Physician Practice Connections®-Readiness Survey™ (PPC®-RS™) and costs (total, outpatient, and inpatient) using 2008 patient data from 21 primary care clinics. Overall, PPC-RS scores were associated with insignificant changes in total (-$75/person, 1.1%) outpatient (-$67/person, 1.2%), and inpatient ($68/person, 0.5%) costs. However, improved PPC-RS scores were associated with significant decreases in total ($2378, 4.4%) and outpatient ($1282/person, 3.5%) costs among patients with 11 or more prescriptions suggesting higher functioning PCMHs may lead to reduced costs among the most complex and costly patients.