CSG Resolution Provides Push for Patient-Centered Medical Homes

The Council of State Governments, or CSG, is urging its members to implement and fund patient-centered medical home pilot projects, providing a strong impetus for states to adopt the medical home as part of their health care plans.

In a unanimous vote on Nov. 14 at its annual meeting in Oklahoma City, the CSG approved a resolution that encourages its members to support the AAFP's Joint Principles of the Patient-Centered Medical Home (3-page PDF: About PDFs) to improve health care quality and reduce costs. In addition, the resolution encourages states to "implement and fund pilot programs to demonstrate the quality, safety, value and effectiveness of the patient-centered medical home.

The resolution is based on principles developed by the AAFP, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians and the American Osteopathic Association, as well as on the ongoing work of the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative. It will be sent to governors and state legislative leaders, creating an opportunity for AAFP chapters to open a dialog with these officials about the importance of the patient-centered medical home model in reforming health care at the state level.

Summary documents that accompany the resolution say that "each patient has an ongoing relationship with a personal physician trained to provide first contact, continuous and comprehensive care." The summary also notes that the personal physician is in charge of leading the patient-centered medical home, which is a victory for primary care, according to Steven Crawford, M.D., of Oklahoma City, chair of the AAFP's Commission on Governmental Advocacy.

"Physicians are the centerpiece (of the medical home)," said Crawford in an interview with AAFP News Now. "It does not necessarily mean family physicians are the centerpiece -- but who better fits the model that has been designed than the family physician?"

AAFP members and staff members in the Government Relations Division worked on the resolution during the past year, presenting CSG members with information and data about the effectiveness of the patient-centered medical home and helping to guide the resolution through the CSG committee process.

However, it is a CSG resolution, not an AAFP resolution, said Crawford. This gives the measure added weight and credence because it is coming from the organization that represents all branches of state government, said Crawford.

"This resolution will be on the minds of every legislative and executive leader in every state," said Crawford. "They will have a passing knowledge of the (medical home) issue."

The AAFP is putting together a resource kit on patient-centered medical homes and the CSG resolution that state chapters can present to lawmakers and outside organizations.