Patient-Centered Medical Homes Are Associated with Better Medication Adherence

More than 10% of primary care practices have met the standards required to be recognized as patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs). But do patients in such practices adhere to medications better than those in non-PCMH practices? Researchers used administrative claims data from a large national insurer to assess medication adherence during 12 months after starting therapy for diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia among patients in PCMH practices compared with those in other medical practices (controls). Patients were considered optimally adherent if they had medication available to them on at least 80% of follow-up days.

Of more than 300,000 patients who met inclusion criteria, 6% received care in PCMH practices. Among 4660 PCMH and contr…