Myth Buster: All integrated care models, such as Accountable Care Organizations, Patient-Centered Medical Homes, and Health Homes, are the same.

MYTH: All integrated care models, such as Accountable Care Organizations, Patient-Centered Medical Homes, and Health Homes, are the same.

FACT:  While all integrated care models share certain characteristics, they vary depending on the care setting and the providers and payers involved. 

Integrated models of health care delivery create aligned, person-centered, primary care-focused health care that both increases care quality and reduces cost (or build upon existing quality, community health, and health prevention collaboratives to achieve these goals).  Designed to break-through the barriers that define the current fragmented and siloed nature of the health care delivery system, integrated models rely on the sharing of information related to patient care among team members and establishing a comprehensive treatment plan to address the patient’s biological, psychological, and social needs.  Accountable care organizations, patient-centered medical homes, and health homes all achieve these goals, but do so in very distinct ways.  To read more about these various types of integrated care models, please read our Myth Buster below.