Primary care physicians who enrolled to be Patient Centered Medical Homes will start to see the benefits this month. The concept encourages doctors to treat chronic conditions and encourage prevention for their patients.
In return, the participating physicians receive financial support and 24/7 phone lines for patients, among other things. Medical Director for Arkansas Medicaid, William Golden, says enrollment has already exceeded expectations.
"We only have about 1,500 primary care doctors in the state. So in a very brief period of time we have almost half the doctors in the state involved," said Golden.
The second period of enrollment has already begun, and will close May 15 of this year.