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The traditional fee-for-service (FFS) healthcare model isn’t well-suited to meet the complex needs of patients with chronic illnesses including chronic kidney disease (CKD). As costs spiral and population health declines, value-based care (VBC) presents a solution that can reshape how the healthcare system approaches CKD management and can serve as a model for how we treat other chronic diseases.
The nephrology field faces significant challenges, especially with the increasing cost (Opens in a new window)of caring for patients with multiple health conditions. The FFS model is not fulfilling the needs of these chronically ill patients and incentivizes the quantity – not the quality – of care given, leading to frequent hospital visits and readmissions (Opens in a new window). VBC presents an alternative approach, incentivizing providers to maintain patients’ health instead of reactively addressing complications after they happen.
This shift toward preventive, coordinated care can help address physical and social factors that influence health outcomes, enabling nephrologists to work more effectively with their patients. Given the shortage of kidney specialists (Opens in a new window)and their many responsibilities across various healthcare settings, value-based models can provide the resources and support systems that can make efficient and effective chronic disease management possible.