The Iowa Medicaid Health Home incentivizes health care providers in Iowa to offer additional services to Medicaid patients with chronic conditions through a monthly payment tied to the number and severity of the enrollee's chronic condition (Table 1). The Health Home model was authorized under a state plan amendment approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services with enrollment beginning July 1, 2012.
Health Home is a specific designation under section 2703 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and is a model of care that provides patient-centered, whole person, coordinated care for all stages of life and transitions of care specifically for individuals with chronic illnesses. For Iowa Medicaid, Health Home practices are enrolled Medicaid provider organizations capable of providing enhanced personal, coordinated care for Medicaid enrollees meeting program eligibility criteria. In return for the enhanced care provided, the Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME) offers monthly care coordination payments and the potential for annual performance based incentives designed to improve patient health outcomes and lower overall Medicaid program costs.
Additional information about the Iowa Medicaid Health Home is located at http://www.ime.state.ia.us/Providers/healthhome.html.