Innovative models of medical and psychiatric care are necessary to address the complex needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), including autism. This article describes a subspecialty medical home program that has provided accessible, comprehensive, coordinated, patient- and family-centered care for this high-needs, underserved patient population. For more than two decades, the University of Utah Huntsman Mental Health Institute Neurobehavior HOME Program (HOME) has provided primary and behavioral health care for individuals with IDD across their lifespan. Program highlights include integrated medical and behavioral health, a unique funding structure, innovative care delivery, and case management. HOME is a clinical setting as well as a Medicaid managed care plan that has blended medical and psychiatric funding streams. This unique funding structure has demonstrated the fiscal sustainability of focusing care on preventive and proactive management of health concerns and responding to crises using a coordinated and comprehensive approach. Rethinking health care delivery and adopting models that are both financially sustainable and provide quality care to this vulnerable population is greatly needed.
Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Intellectual and developmental disabilities; Medical Homes; Mental Health Care/Service Delivery Systems; Neurodevelopmental Disorders.
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