The HPC, in collaboration with the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), launched the PCMH PRIME Certification Program in 2016 to recognize primary care practices demonstrating key capabilities in the integration of behavioral health care into primary care. The PCMH PRIME certification standards were phased out in 2019 with the adoption of NCQA’s Distinction in Behavioral Health Integration as the new qualifying standards for HPC PCMH Certification. Practices that were PCMH PRIME Certified prior to this transition will keep their current status until it expires. See the full list of currently certified practices on the HPC’s PCMH Certification Program page.
PCMH PRIME practices were certified under the PCMH PRIME Standards and Guidelines.
For additional information on the value of behavioral health integration and PCMH PRIME Certification please see the PCMH PRIME Infographic, PCMH PRIME Information Sheet for Patients and Providers, and PCMH PRIME Information Sheet for Payers.
PCMH PRIME Eligibility and Application
To qualify for PCMH PRIME Certification, a practice had to:
- Be located in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- Be a Level 2 or Level 3 NCQA-recognized PCMH under 2011 standards, a NCQA-recognized PCMH at any level under 2014 standards, or an NCQA-recognized PCMH under 2017 standards.
- Complete and submit a short application to the HPC.
- Submit documentation to NCQA to be evaluated on the PCMH PRIME behavioral health criteria (practices were not charged for PRIME review). Eligible practices had to meet at least seven of 13 criteria to achieve PCMH PRIME certification.
- Technical assistance was available to support practices in developing the capabilities needed to meet the PCMH PRIME criteria.
Previous PCMH PRIME Events
NCQA PCMH Webinar, November 5, 2018: 12-1:30 PM ET
This 90-minute webinar introduced participants to the Health Policy Commission’s PCMH PRIME Certification program. NCQA faculty provided an overview of PCMH PRIME criteria, documentation requirements, and application process. This session was designed to increase participants’ understanding of how an organization can apply to be PCMH PRIME certified. It also examined the impact of a behavioral health focus on the medical home model.
NCQA PCMH Webinar, September 11, 2018
This 90-minute webinar introduced participants to the Health Policy Commission’s PCMH PRIME Certification program. NCQA faculty provided an overview of PCMH PRIME criteria, documentation requirements, and application process. This session was designed to increase participants’ understanding of how an organization can apply to be PCMH PRIME certified. It also examined the impact of a behavioral health focus on the medical home model.
In-Person NCQA PCMH Seminar, April 30 and May 1, 2018
Massachusetts Health Policy Commission
50 Milk Street, 8th Floor
Boston, MA 02109
During this 1.5 day seminar, NCQA faculty reviewed the NCQA PCMH 2017 standards, documentation requirements, and application process. The training also included a unit on the PCMH PRIME program and certification process, with a focus on the PCMH PRIME program updates that went into effect November 2017. The training gave participants the opportunity to practice scoring elements and examine documentation that supports an NCQA PCMH application and PCMH PRIME Certification.
Seminar presentation: Introduction to PCMH: Foundational Concepts of the Medical Home
Knowledge Sharing Session: Tele-health for Behavioral Health Integration in Primary Care, April 12, 2018
To view the video of our April 12 panel on models and strategies for using tele-health to support behavioral health integration (BHI) into primary care settings, please click here.
This event was facilitated by Dr. Jean Glossa, MD, MBA, Health Management Associates and featured the following panelists:
- Dr. Michael Yogman, MD, and Susan Betjemann, MSW, LICSW, Yogman Pediatric Associates
- Dr. Jonas Bromberg, Psy.D., Pediatric Physicians’ Organization at Boston Children’s Hospital
- Daniel Hogan MPH, LICSW, Codman Square Health Center
Knowledge Sharing Session: Pharmacologic Assisted SUD Treatment in Primary Care, August 8, 2017
To view the video of our August 8 panel on strategies for implementing pharmacologic treatment of SUD in primary care settings, please click here. An info graphic with key insights from the event can be found here. This event was facilitated by Suzanne Mitchell, MD, Consultant, Health Management Associates and featured providers with experience treating SUD in primary care settings including:
- Kiame Mahaniah, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Lynn Community Health Center
- Ellie Grossman, MD, Internist, Cambridge Health Alliance
- Jacob Kagan, MD, Department Chair, Behavioral Health, Atrius Health
- Marcelo Campos, MD, Internist, Atrius Health
- Jessica Gray, MD, Family Physician, Boston Medical Center