Medical home pilot project could boost practices' income

Last month, UnitedHealthcare launched a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) pilot project in Arizona with employer IBM, which could boost participants' income by as much as 20 percent on top of their current billings if they fulfill the requirements of the program, according to the health plan.

Findings from this pilot program will help UnitedHealthcare shape future medical home project strategies, including development of a national expansion in late 2010 and 2011, says Eric Sullivan, national director of PCMH initiatives for UnitedHealthcare. When selected, the four- to six-physician practices in UnitedHealthcare's medical home project will be required to use e-prescribing and electronic patient registries, and submit for PCMH certification from the National Committee of Quality Assurance. Certification includes nine practice standards to reach one of three levels of recognition.

To date, there are at least 22 medical home projects or demonstrations around the country involving commercial health insurers, according to a report issued in October by the Patient Centered Primary Care Collaborative.