Business
S.C. medical home pilot for patients with diabetes under way with Blues support
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 3, 2009
A patient-centered medical home pilot program centered in Charleston, S.C., has in its first three months enrolled 1,110 patients, all diabetics who will be monitored by a primary care physician.
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is paying an additional care management fee to the practices participating in the pilot, a group of 19 clinics operated by Palmetto Primary Care Physicians.
Physicians anchor a team of caregivers, including social workers, dietitians, pharmacists, nurses and diabetes educators. Patients enrolled in the pilot are able to access tools to help track their care online, and can schedule online visits with their physicians. Case managers follow a patient's care and aim to reduce missed appointments, track health measures and educate patients.
According to 2008 data analysis by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 10.1% of South Carolina residents have been told by a doctor that they have diabetes, compared to 8.2% nationally.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/03/bibf0803.htm.
