Vermont Medicare progam to serve as the model for feds

[cali]

By JENNIFER C. KERR The Associated Press - Published: September 17, 2009


WASHINGTON — The Obama administration announced a new Medicare pilot program Wednesday to strengthen primary care services for patients and cut costly emergency room visits — by offering financial incentives to doctors.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the three-year pilot program would begin early next year and is modeled after a program being tested in Vermont.

Under the Vermont program, private insurers work with Medicaid to set uniform standards for so-called "medical homes" — a single doctor or practice that will track all the patient's required care. The model provides financial incentives for doctors to spend more time with patients and offer better care by coordinating with specialists. That program would now extend to Medicare.

Medicaid is the federal-state program that provides health insurance to the poor. Medicare is the federal program that provides health insurance to the elderly.

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http://www.timesargus.com/article/20090917/BUSINESS/909170307/1006/BUSINESS