This study, conducted by researchers from the Center for Health Policy and Research, sought to evaluate the impact of practice participation in a pediatric patient-centered medical home learning collaborative on preventable emergency department visits among children in MassHealth. They carried out their research by examining claims and enrollment data for MassHealth members ages 3-18 split into two groups: one comprised of members that participated in an intensive, 29-month long patient-centered medical home learning collaborative and another group made up of members enrolled in comparison practices with similar panel sizes.
Researchers found that preventable emergency department visits declined among children in both groups, but for children with chronic conditions, enrollment in a medical home setting was notably more effective in benefiting patients.