UnitedHealth Group and Physician Groups to Launch “Medical Home” Pilot Program

UnitedHealth Group, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Physicians (ACP) are announcing a pilot program to accelerate the implementation of a primary care model, called the patient-centered medical home, designed to improve patients’ total health and care delivery.

UnitedHealth Group, with the support of the professional societies, will provide enhanced payment to reward primary care doctors whose care is based on this model, and who demonstrate measurable improvements in the overall health of their patients.

The medical home model was initiated by the AAP and developed by leading medical professional societies such as AAFP and ACP. Each patient will have the choice to select a personal physician, or “medical home,” who knows his or her medical and family history and coordinates their medical care. The physician will be responsible not only for treating a specific ailment or condition, but also for working with the patient to better manage his or her health care needs and arranging care as appropriate with other professionals. The patient-centered medical home model places special emphasis on preventing disease and improving the care of chronic conditions. It emphasizes behavioral health support and patient education as well as the diagnosis and treatment of acute illnesses. The pilot program will be launched in Florida with approximately six specially-chosen primary care practices that will employ the model. UnitedHealth Group and the societies have commissioned an independent research study on the pilot program.