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New Health Care Model Could Help Thousands in State

Posted: Saturday, December 22, 2012 6:00 am | Updated: 10:05 pm, Fri Dec 21, 2012.

New health care model could help thousands in state FROM STAFF REPORTS The Item

More than 4,000 additional South Carolinians in Sumter, Orangeburg, Greenville and Pickens counties are eligible to participate in a new health care model designed to improve health outcomes, reduce cost and improve the patient's experience.

The new model - patient-centered medical homes - was launched recently in physician practices in those counties with support from BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina.

Hosting the new patient-centered medical homes are Singleton Health Center and Medical Center of Santee in Orangeburg County; Colonial Family Practice in Sumter; and Bon Secours Medical Group with practices in Greenville and Pickens counties.

At Sumter's Colonial Family Practice, Dr. Jason Leonard said, "We are proud to be the first office in the Sumter area to be designated as a PCMH. We truly feel like our unique office setup is perfectly situated to serve as a medical home. The physicians and staff here at Colonial Healthcare have worked tirelessly for years to be the health care quality leader in Sumter by offering the most comprehensive services and extended hours of any medical office in the area. We are excited to take this next step to further improve and coordinate patient care while reducing health care costs."

Patient-centered medical homes revamp how primary care is delivered and financed. These are not actual "homes" but a new approach coordinated by a patient's primary care physician. The physician systematically assesses the individual's total health care needs, coordinates all of the care provided by a multidisciplinary team, assesses the results and adjusts the customized total care plan as needed.

In addition to paying the traditional claims, the insurance company provides a per-patient, per-month payment to the practice. This defrays the primary care doctor's extra costs for providing case management, patient education materials and other care coordination and quality improvement activities. Medical practices that document improved health outcomes receive an increased amount per member each month the next year.

"This is treating the whole patient, not just the illness. It's proactive contact by their primary care provider for preventive care, coordination by that medical practice when the patient needs a specialist or has had emergency treatment or a hospitalization, and it can include assistance to overcome barriers such as finding community resources for someone who needs transportation," said Dr. Laura Long, MPH, BlueCross' vice president of clinical innovation and population health.

At Colonial Healthcare, we respect your time. We provide same-day service and limited wait times, even without an appointment. Our moto is "We Will See You Today!". We also provide in-house diagnostic testing to save you time on appointments and travel. 

Colonial Family Practice is also the only health provider in Sumter and it's surrounding communities who's physicians are recognized by the National Center for Quality Assurance Heart/Stroke Recognition Program and the second to receive recognition from the Diabetes Recognition Program.

To find out if your clinician has been recognized by the Diabetes, or Heart/Stroke Recognition Program or for further information, please visit www.ncqa.org/dprp or www.ncqa.org/hsrp.