NY Foundation Launches Initiative for Medical Home/Meaningful Use

The Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC) (New York City) and the Community Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS) recently launched the "Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) / Meaningful Use of Health Information Technology (HIT) Learning Collaborative." This unique initiative will help twelve New York City community health centers leverage two historic state and federal financial incentives, while simultaneously transforming the delivery of primary care. The initiative is being supported with $525,000 in total grant funding from The Altman Foundation, The New York Community Trust, and the RCHN Community Health Foundation.

The project was developed in response to two major initiatives. First, the New York State Medicaid Medical Home Program offers additional dollars for primary care providers that meet national medical home standards that emphasize use of health information technology, care teams, evidence-based medicine, clear and open communication with patients, open scheduling, and management of chronic disease patients. Providers can earn as much as an additional $2 to $16 per visit per patient through the program. Second, the federal government has defined meaningful use of health information technology standards and allocated $20 billion in Medicaid and Medicare incentives. Demonstration of key standards, such as electronic capture of health information; tracking of key clinical conditions; and communicating and reporting of outcomes will result in $65,000 in Medicaid or $44,000 in Medicare incentives over five years. Beginning in 2015, Medicare providers yet to demonstrate meaningful use will face financial penalties.

Twelve health centers serving the underserved communities of Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens will participate in the first wave of this two-year project, including: Access Community Health Center, Promesa, Boriken Neighborhood Health Center, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center, Brownsville Multi-Service Family Health Center, Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center, Morris Heights Health Center, Pediatrics 2000, Settlement Health, and Soundview Healthcare Network.