Increased attention given to patients in primary care practices organized into so-called medical homes may not improve quality of care or reduce health costs as reformers of the U.S. healthcare system had hoped, researchers said on Tuesday. Thousands of primary care doctors in the United States are revamping their practices based on this new medical home model. Under this scheme, doctors and other providers receive bonuses from insurance companies for spending extra time with patients by extending office hours and providing follow-up care in hopes of keeping them healthier and out of the hospital.
