Institute For The Future

The "Medical Home" Model

Today's New York Times has a feature story about the "medical home" model under which primary care physicians get extra payments to provide ongoing communications and support for their patients that would not be reimbursed under current schemes.  Though not primarily focused on the use of technology, the model is designed to encourage doctors to stay in touch with patients between appointments in order to monitor their health, send appointment reminders, coordinate care, etc., that could make use of mobile technologies. 

According to the article, there are currently pilot trials of the model, funded by insurers and payers, underway in "half a dozen states...involving thousands of physicians and nearly 2 million patients." 

 

The article, "Trying to Save by Increasing Doctors' Fees," is at:

www.nytimes.com/2008/07/21/business/21medhome.html.