New York: AIDS Care Recognized for Patient Care

The nonprofit National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has awarded AIDS Care its highest ranking for a patient-centered medical home.

The designation makes AIDS Care eligible for Medicaid reimbursement incentives of up to $16 per office visit, allowing the agency to expand programs and services, said Jay Rudman, president and CEO. AIDS Care serves approximately 700 patients, but not all are on Medicaid.

AIDS Care is among 39 Rochester-area practices and more than 3,000 nationwide to receive the designation from NCQA, which issues report cards based on outcome and accountability measures.

"The idea is about putting the patient in the center of the process," said Rudman. Ninety-eight percent of AIDS Care's clients receive their primary and specialty care at the facility.

The aim is to provide coordinated care attending to the whole person, improving quality and controlling costs by addressing problems before they escalate. NCQA reports that medical homes have helped North Carolina save $1 billion in Medicaid spending; the medical home movement is part of health care reform.

"Nationally, it's becoming evident that primary care practices that have transformed into medical homes are having an impact on the health and experience of the patients," said Peggy Reineking, NCQA's director of recognition operations.

Back to other news for February 2012