Cover Story Sidebar -- October 2001
Primary care case management (PCCM) is a form of Medicaid managed care. The model operates in Dallas, El Paso, Galveston, Houston, Lubbock, and San Antonio and is popular among patients and physicians. While the goal of PCCM -- to reduce health care expenditures while improving patient care and quality -- is similar to that of Medicaid HMOs, the model does not impose the same administrative hassles or service restrictions as do more tightly managed models.
PCCM is essentially a managed fee-for-service arrangement, using a network of primary care physicians and providers to manage and coordinate patient services. Cost savings are achieved by reducing inappropriate emergency room usage and specialty care.
Once fully implemented, all Medicaid-eligible patients will be required to enroll in PCCM, including patients with disabilities and blind patients, who are eligible for Supplemental Security Income. When enrolling in PCCM, patients will be allowed to select their primary care physician, though patients who do not select a primary care physician will be assigned to one by the state.
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Last Updated On
June 14, 2016
Originally Published On
March 23, 2010