Patients' and Caregivers' Experiences with the Multi-Payer Advanced Primary Care Practice Demonstration

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Primary Care
• Patient Experience

Background:

• The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model aims to enhance primary care delivery through a patient-centered approach.
• Limited qualitative research exists on the impact of PCMH models on patient experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore patient and caregiver experiences within PCMHs participating in the Multi-Payer Advanced Primary Care Practice (MAPCP) Demonstration.
• To understand the perspectives of Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries regarding their PCMH care.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study involving 490 Medicare, Medicaid, and dually eligible patients and their caregivers.
• Conducted 81 focus groups across eight states, with discussions recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using NVivo software.

Main Results:

• Participant experiences generally aligned with PCMH principles, with notable variations among different patient groups.
• Medicaid-only and dually eligible beneficiaries reported less positive experiences compared to Medicare beneficiaries.
• Most participants were unaware of the PCMH designation or transformation efforts, and few reported their practices soliciting feedback.

Conclusions:

• While many patients reported positive experiences, there are clear opportunities to enhance care for Medicaid and dually eligible populations.
• Improving patient awareness and involvement in PCMH practice transformation is crucial for future success.