Determining the Potential Impact of the Affordable Care Act’s New Models of Care on Healthcare Access and Delivery in Southern New Jersey

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides healthcare coverage to one out of every three Americans, and it is currently playing a paramount role in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The CMS Region II Office requested a Capstone team to help it assess whether the new models of care underpinning ACA, including patient-centered medical homes and accountable care organizations, are feasible and desirable in the rural counties of Southern New Jersey, and if they are not, what methods of care delivery might better meet these counties’ healthcare needs. Additionally, the team explored the potential impact that New Jersey’s future health insurance exchange might have on health insurance access in the region. The final qualitative analysis report includes findings from a literature review, interviews with key stakeholders, and a site visit to the area’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center. Through its work, the team established a methodological framework that can assist the CMS Region II Office in conducting future feasibility assessments in areas where health care services and delivery systems are limited.