The report proposes the development of a standardized definition for the PCDH (Patient Centered Dental Home) and identifies methods for integrating oral health care toward the goal of overall patient health.
To help understand and prepare for changes in the delivery system for dentistry, this report provides background information describing how the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model developed, how the ACA (Affordable Care Act) accelerated PCMH initiatives, and the intersection between ACA-related changes and opportunities to develop the PCDH model.
In this PCDH model, care would be provided with an approach that is comprehensive, coordinated, accessible, and patient/family-centered, with a focus on quality and safety. In addition to focusing on improving patient-centered dental care delivery, this model would enable dental practices and practice networks to integrate with other entities such as ACOs (Accountable Care Organizations), Medicaid health homes, community health teams, and PCMHs (Patient-centered Medical Homes) to create overall health homes that include provisions for oral health.