The state of Maryland is testing a new approach to the delivery of primary care that focuses on prevention and comprehensive care and meeting the needs of the whole person rather than just a specific medical problem.

The state’s Medicaid program and four large health insurers are spending $6 million a year to help 52 primary care practices across the state invest in resources for supplemental staff, training, and technology to help provide the supplemental services needed for this alternative approach to patient care.  The medical practices receive payments above and beyond their regular fees and also share 50 percent of savings associated with fewer emergency room visits and hospital admissions.

Read more about the Maryland experiment in this Washington Post article.

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