The Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc. has released a brief examining important issues in the development of Medicaid health homes.  The authors note that the national health care reform law presents opportunities to establish health homes serving individuals with chronic illnesses and/or severe mental illnesses.  Drawing on a stakeholder panel, the brief offers considerations for states in the preliminary stages of planning health homes.

From the report:

The Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) presents a new opportunity for Medicaid programs to develop health homes for patients with multiple chronic conditions and/or severe mental illness. Through health homes, Medicaid can reimburse for critical services: comprehensive care management; care coordination and health promotion; transitional care; individual and family support; and referrals to community and social support services. States will be eligible to receive 90/10 federal matching funds for two years, thus creating a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate how coordinated care management can improve quality and potentially bend cost trends.

Full report: Initial Considerations to Guide the Development of Medicaid Health Homes (PDF | 79.33 KB)

Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc.  (2011).  Initial considerations to guide the development of Medicaid health homes.  McGinnis, T.