Reducing ER

The Bi-State Primary Care Association believes that Medicaid recipients would benefit from having a family doctor or “medical home.” New Hampshire’s 11 Community Health Centers (CHCs) provide primary and preventive care services for over 62,000 patients at 21 sites. The CHCs will partner with the NH Medicaid program to serve as the “medical home” for Medicaid recipients. The CHCs exist to serve vulnerable populations who may need special assistance with language translation, transportation, family support, health education, and pharmaceutical assistance.

The Community Health Centers apply many of the following best practices to encourage their patients to use the primary care setting. It is recommended that the Medicaid Modernization Project apply these best practices to the health care for all Medicaid recipients.

Access to Office Appointments

Expanded evening and weekend hours
Unreserved appointments for same-day visits

Triage and Telephone Service

24 hour per day/ 7 day per week physician coverage and access
A Nurse Information Line for patient questions

Patient Education

Counseling as to appropriate use of the primary care and emergency room settings
Educational materials to support use of the primary care setting
Disease management counseling

Contact Between the Emergency Department and CHC

Emergency Department referral of patients without a “medical home” to a Community Health Center or primary care practice.

Patient Co-payments

An increase in the Medicaid co-payment for use of the emergency room to discourage emergency room use for non-emergent services that could be provided at a Community Health Center or primary care practice.

3 South Street

Concord, NH 03301

Phone: 603.228.2830 Fax: 603.228.2464

61 Elm Street

Montpelier, VT 05602

Phone: 802.229.0002 Fax: 802.223.2336