BCBSRI: PCMH study shows $30M in savings over traditional care

BLUE CROSS & Blue Shield of Rhode Island said a study has shown that patient-centered medical home practices can improve health outcomes and lower costs for patients, with patients 30 percent less likely to be readmitted to a hospital. / COURTESY BLUE CROSS & BLUE SHIELD OF RHODE ISLAND
BLUE CROSS & Blue Shield of Rhode Island said a study has shown that patient-centered medical home practices can improve health outcomes and lower costs for patients, with patients 30 percent less likely to be readmitted to a hospital. / COURTESY BLUE CROSS & BLUE SHIELD OF RHODE ISLAND

PROVIDENCE – A study by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island has shown that patient-centered medical home practices can improve health outcomes and lower costs for patients, providing advantages over traditional primary care.

BCBSRI, in a press release, said that at the end of the five-year study period, as well as in the study’s final year, patient-centered medical home practices were 5 percent less costly and saved a total of $30 million compared with standard primary care providers.

It also found a more than 250 percent return on investment in the patient-centered medical home program.

PCMH is a health care model that aims to embody principles of comprehensive and coordinated care, patient-centered health, accessible services, and quality and safety.

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The study found that between 2009 and 2014, patients in the PCMH with serious medical conditions, such as diabetes or cardiac health issues, were 16 percent less likely to be hospitalized or need to visit an emergency department, and that readmissions to hospitals were 30 percent lower, compared with someone seeing a standard primary care provider.

It also found that patients at patient-centered medical home practices saw improvements in diabetes care and colorectal screening.

“We have invested heavily in provider partnerships committed to delivering on the triple aim of improving population health, patient experience and cost of care, and this study shows that we are beginning to see returns on that investment,” Peter Andruszkiewicz, president and CEO of BCBSRI, said in a statement.

“While we are pleased with the results to date, health care remains too expensive and does not produce the experience our members deserve. Blue Cross remains focused on accelerating delivery system change and achieving a simpler, more satisfying and affordable care experience for our members and all Rhode Islanders,” he said.

The report tracked more than 89,000 commercial and 14,000 Medicare Advantage members within BCBSRI’s PCMH over the five-year period.

BCBSRI now has 137,000 patients in PCMH practices.

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