OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between having a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) and health care expenditures for children with special health care needs (CSHCN) in the U.S. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of CSHCN in the 2008-2012 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) databases. MEPS identified CSHCN, while a binary PCMH indicator was constructed from parents’ survey responses following a validated algorithm.We examined the PCMH effect on CSHCN’s annual health care expenditures using an inverse treatment probability weighted sample with a 2-part model using logistic regression and linear regression with log-transformed costs. RESULTS: A total of 6,595 CSHCN were included in the sample. 45.5% of CSHCN reported had a PCMH. Almost all CSHCN (94.2%) incurred positive annual healthcare expenditures. CSHCN with a PCMH had higher odds of incurring any expenditure (OR=1.81, 95% CI: 1.54-2.13) -- in particular, expenditures on office visits (OR=1.45, 95% CI: 1.33-1.60) and prescriptions (OR=1.39, 95% CI: 1.28-1.51) -- compared with those without a PCMH. A PCMH was associated with higher total expenditures, as well as expenditures on outpatient care, office-based care, and prescriptions (11.1%, 32.4%, 6.9%, and 17.6%, respectively; all p<0.01). Altogether, annual total expenditures were $3,554 for CSHCN with a PCMH, versus $3,198 for children without one. CONCLUSIONS: During the study period, CSHCN with a PCMH had higher healthcare expenditures, in particular for outpatient care and prescription drugs. Further research is needed to identify whether this is a causal effect between PCMHs and health care utilization for CSHCN. Reference: Romaire MA, Bell JF, Grossman DC. Medical home access and health care use and expenditures among children with special health care needs. Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine.