House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

Posted:	May 29, 2013 11:02 AM
From:	Representative Matthew E. Baker
To:	All House members
Subject:	PCMH Advisory Council legislation

In the near future, I will be introducing legislation that would establish the “Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Advisory Council” that would provide recommendations to the Dept. of Public Welfare on this quality-improving and cost-containing model of health care. In a Patient-Centered Medical Home model, an individual is cared for through a physician-led team approach involving a network of health care providers. Nationwide, 26 state Medicaid programs have launched Patient-Centered Medical Home initiatives on a state or regional level according to the National Academy for State Health Policy. Private insurers are already using PCMH models. Highmark Inc. announced on Jan. 23 that they will be expanding their PCMH initiative from 160 to over 1,000 primary care doctors affecting more than 170,000 Highmark members in Pennsylvania. The pilot program produced a 2 percent reduction in cost, as well as fewer inpatient admission and readmissions to hospitals. I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this important legislation that will promote the Patient-Centered Medical Home model within our Medicaid program. This legislation is supported by the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians.
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Introduced as HB1655