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H H S Department of Health and Human Services
Health Resources and Services Administration
Maternal and Child Health

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Implementation of the Medical Home Program

The Family/Patient Centered Medical Home Program facilitates the implementation of the family/patient centered medical home model at the practice and system levels to ensure that every child and youth, especially those with special health care needs, has access to comprehensive health care that is accessible, family-centered, coordinated, compassionate, and delivered in a culturally effective manner.

Research indicates that access to a medical home results in improved health outcomes, reduced emergency room visits, and better communication between families and pediatric health professionals. Yet many children and youth, including those with special health care needs, do not have access to a medical home. Because of its importance in promoting healthy development and improving quality of health, access to a medical home has been identified as a major goal.

Activities

Discretionary grants and contracts support implementation of the medical home at Federal, State, and community levels. In addition, Title V maternal and child health programs in every State and Territories dedicate resources to achieve universal access to a medical home, and report annually on the number of children and youth with special health care needs who have a medical home. The Family/Patient Centered Medical Home Program supports the following activities:

State Implementation Grants aim to create and enhance state and community infrastructure to provide a comprehensive and integrated system of services, including universal access to medical homes. Over forty States have received grants to develop and implement medical home models that assure every child and youth access to comprehensive, coordinated, and family centered health care.

National Center for Medical Home Implementation works to support implementation of the medical home model at the practice and system levels.  The center has developed a toolkit, tools and resources for national dissemination and use; and provides technical assistance on a national and statewide level.

Partnerships with national organizations and federal agencies address important issues related to medical home implementation for children and youth, especially those with special health care needs.  

Resources

National Center for Medical Home Implementation (NCMHI) is the premier source for tools and information on the pediatric patient- and family-centered medical home and how practices, families, communities and states are advancing the model and working on its implementation. http://www.medicalhomeinfo.org

Regional Genetic and Newborn Screening Service Collaboratives National Coordinating Center serves as the bridge between the regional collaborative and MCHB; consumer and professional organizations; researchers; public health organizations; and policy makers. http://www.nccrcg.org

The Health IT for Children Toolbox is a compilation of health IT information targeted at children’s health care needs, ranging from pediatric electronic medical records to children’s health insurance coverage.  Explore the toolbox and find information about the use of IT in building a medical home. http://www.hrsa.gov/healthit/toolbox/childrenstoolbox/

A clinician with a mother and infant patient