Patient-Centered Medical Homes Show Fewer Emergency Department Visits For Medicare Patients

Outpatient emergency department visit volume increased more slowly between 2008 and 2010 for Medicare beneficiaries served by a primary care patient-centered medical home (PCMH) than for beneficiaries served by non-PCMH primary care settings. Relative to non-PCMH practices, beneficiaries served by a PCMH had 13 fewer all-cause emergency department visits per 100 for 2009 PCMHs and 12 visits per 100 fewer for PCMHs in 2010. For ambulatory-care-sensitive condition emergency department visits, the visit growth rate for beneficiaries served by a PCMH was lower by eight visits per 100 for PCMHs in 2009, and lower by . . .