Influence of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on the Development of the Patient Centered Medical Home

The Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model of care incorporates many public health concepts. Some supporters of PCMH regard the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as legislation that will invigorate PCMH progress across the country. This policy analysis intends to understand the influence of the ACA on the development of PCMH. The policy analysis compares relevant sections of the ACA with core PCMH concepts agreed upon by major medical professional organizations. The evaluative framework uses a “traffic light” system to rate each section of the ACA based on the accuracy of the section as compared to PCMH criteria, and denotes whether or not the evidence in the PCMH literature supports the subject of each section. A modified SWOT analysis details strengths and weaknesses of each section. Even though 11% of the ACA was applicable to PCMH, only 5% of sections in ACA received a green light rating. Evidence does not support the majority of sections. Using PCMH terminology in the ACA does not guarantee PCMH development via legislative mandate. In order for policy makers and health care leaders to see robust effects of PCMH, there must be a consistency in use of PMCH terms, more evidence surrounding PCMH, and a longer period for demonstration projects. INFLUENCE OF ACA ON PCMH 4 Influence of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on the development of the Patient Centered Medical Home Policy development is a nationally accepted core function of public health (Institute of Medicine, 1988). Traditionally, public health departments focus energy on assessment and assurance. These functions include providing medical care, enforcing laws, and monitoring disease. Recently, however, public health priorities have shifted towards health policy and systems based infrastructure to ensure population health. Evaluating policy for viability, efficacy, and cost effectiveness is just as essential to successful public health initiatives as health programming. On March 23 2010, President Obama signed into law The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Arguably, ACA is the largest health policy change since the Social Security Act established Medicare in 1965. One component of ACA is the development of The Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH). The Ohio Family Health Survey, partially sponsored by the Ohio Department of Health, identified Patient Centered Medical Homes as a 2010 research priority. This research aims to analyze the potential influence of the Patient Protection and Affordable Act on the Patient Centered Medical Home model of care.