Bill > S0698

This bill amends the state's primary care training sites program by expanding the definitions and requirements for patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs), which are healthcare delivery models focused on comprehensive, team-based patient care. The bill adds new definitions for organizations like the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), and introduces the Office of Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC) as the state agency authorized to designate PCMHs. The legislation modifies contract requirements for primary care sites, allowing them to achieve PCMH status through multiple pathways, including NCQA distinction, NCQA case management accreditation, recognition by OHIC, or approval by the AAAHC. The bill also provides more flexibility for training requirements, changing the didactic training from a minimum of five hours to up to five hours, and allows the director of the department of health to optionally (rather than mandatorily) promulgate rules and regulations. The primary goal of these changes is to enhance primary care training sites and improve healthcare delivery by promoting patient-centered care models that aim to achieve optimal health outcomes.

Health and Social Services

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