This issue brief from the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network describes the concept of the “patient-centered medical home” and explains how this emerging model of health care delivery might advance health equity. The issue brief highlights ten common characteristics of medical homes and discusses how these characteristics could improve language access, cultural competency and reduce health care disparities for patients from diverse backgrounds. The issue brief also includes a brief history of the development of medical homes and provides updates on the leading standards to recognize or certify medical homes. Finally, the issue brief references how the further development and implementation of medical homes will be supported by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and how the California legislature already has proposed its own definition of a medical home.
Ignatius Bau 