The patient-centered medical home model: healthcare services utilization and cost for non-elderly adults with mental illness.

BACKGROUND

The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model is designed to improve health outcomes while containing the cost of care. However, the evidence is inconclusive.

AIMS

The aim of this study was to examine the associations between receipt of care consistent with the PCMH and healthcare services utilization and expenditures for non-elderly adults with mental illness in the USA.

METHOD

A surveillance study was conducted using self-reported data for 6908 non-elderly adults with mental illness participating in the 2007-2012 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Healthcare services utilization and expenditures were compared for study participants who received care consistent with the PCMH, participants with a non-PCMH usual source of care (USC), and participants without a USC.

RESULTS

Differences in utilization and expenditures between participants who received care consistent with the PCMH and participants who had a non-PCMH USC were not statistically significant for any healthcare services category.

CONCLUSIONS

Receipt of care consistent with the PCMH was not significantly associated with differences in healthcare services utilization or expenditures compared to having a non-PCMH USC. Research assessing whether the PCMH is cost-effective for non-elderly adults with mental illness is needed.