March 8, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brandi Hinkle
Deputy Chief of Communications
501-683-5286 or [email protected]
 

Surgeon General Bledsoe to Lead Next Phase of PCMH Design

Arkansas Surgeon General Greg Bledsoe will take on a new advisory role as the state seeks to grow and enhance the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) program, officials with Arkansas Medicaid announced Friday.
“This program has proven to be successful in changing patients’ outcomes while controlling costs,” said Dawn Stehle, Arkansas Department of Human Services Deputy Director for Health and Medicaid Director. “With Dr. Bledsoe’s leadership, we expect it to serve more Arkansans in a way that will lead to a healthier population overall.”
Medical homes are a team-based model of care led by a patient’s primary care physician, who serves as a coordinator among a patient’s other providers, including specialists, pharmacists, therapists and nurse practitioners. Pioneered in the state, the PCMH model has a continued goal of personalizing patient care, more intensive practice transformation coaching for newly-enrolled health care providers and using technology to improve access for patients. The voluntary program, established in 2014, has enrolled more than 900 providers and serves roughly 360,000 Arkansans of all ages and levels of health.
“Physicians across the state have been leaders in creating a PCMH program that has quickly become the national standard,” said Bledsoe. “I look forward to working with this incredible group of caregivers to make the program even better.”
In working with Medicaid PCMH, Bledsoe will establish a physician-led panel with Brad Bibb, M.D., who will serve as vice chairman. Their insight will provide knowledge and practical experience to improve metrics and design reporting protocols, and help providers better navigate the Medicare Access and Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015, which created new reporting programs and payment models through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 
This comprehensive model of care has a focus on preventative services rather than acute illness, and empowers patients to actively participate in their health care choices. Medicaid-funded transformation coaches are available for up to 24 months and assist with care plan development, updating workflows and processes, interpreting data and reports, and provide additional educational resources. Arkansas BlueCross BlueShield, QualChoice and Centene have partnered with Medicaid in this program.
For more information, visit https://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/comprehensive-primary-care-plus or http://www.paymentinitiative.org/medicalHomes/Pages/default.aspx.
 

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