The Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) www.mpca.net news publication called eUpdate, reports that along with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services www.michigan.gov/mdhhs they have launched the “MI Care Team” sometimes referred to as health homes. The participating health centers are expected to serve a population of about 18,000.
There are ten Michigan Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) at 44 sites in 23 counties committed to using an innovative model of care with access to new technology and data through Care Connect 360.
The Health Home service model is intended to help chronically ill Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan beneficiaries manage their health conditions through an intimate level of care management and coordination.
The MI Care Team will use an interdisciplinary team of providers who operate in a behavioral health integrated primary care setting to ensure a seamless transition of care. This will help connect the beneficiary with needed clinical and social services.
The team will include a Nurse Care Manage and a Community Health Worker. With the beneficiary’s consent, health IT will strengthen care management and coordination through data collection and information sharing.
This model will address all the facets of a beneficiary’s health status including clinical needs and social determinants of health. This model is also expected to boast patient self-management of chronic conditions, reduce healthcare costs, and raise the quality of life for participating beneficiaries.