The patient-centered medical home model: healthcare services utilization and cost for non-elderly adults with mental illness

Background: The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model is designed to improve health outcomes while containing the cost of care. However, the evidence is inconclusive. Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the associations between receipt of care consistent with the PCMH and healthcare services utilization and expenditures for non-elderly adults with mental illness in the USA. Method: A surveillance study was conducted using self-reported data for 6908 non-elderly adults with mental illness participating in the 2007-2012 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Healthcare services utilization and expenditures were compared for study participants who received care consistent with the PCMH, participants with a non-PCMH usual source of care (USC), and participants without a USC. Results: Differences in utilization and expenditures between participants who received care consistent with the PCMH and participants who had a non-PCMH USC were not statistically significant for any healthcare services category. Conclusions: Receipt of care consistent with the PCMH was not significantly associated with differences in healthcare services utilization or expenditures compared to having a non-PCMH USC. Research assessing whether the PCMH is cost-effective for non-elderly adults with mental illness is needed.