Health care costs in the United States are rising every year, leading to poorer patient outcomes, high out-of-pocket payments, and a consolidated market. One factor driving this rise is how siloed our health care system is. Not only are patients being forced to pay high out-of-pocket costs, but independent physicians are also feeling the pressure,…

Value-based care (VBC) is not new. The concept began in the 1980s with the introduction of managed care and capitation models, where providers were paid a set amount per patient rather than per service. However, it gained significant traction in the early 2000s and continues to evolve with ongoing efforts to refine payment models, improve…

Achieving the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS’s) goal to bring every Medicare patient into a value-based care (VBC) arrangement by 2030 requires bold action. With six years left to achieve that goal (as of January 2024), only half of current Medicare beneficiaries are aligned with an accountable care organization (ACO) providing care within…

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a new avenue of funding for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) with implications for palliative care providers. The agency’s 2025 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule contains a provision that would establish a new “prepaid shared savings” option for Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) participants. This…

The Impact of Meaningful Patient-Provider Relationships In the evolving landscape of healthcare, the dynamic between patient and provider is increasingly scrutinized. As technology continues to integrate into everyday healthcare practices, it’s essential to assess whether these tools foster meaningful relationships or if they inadvertently encourage a more transactional approach. Drawing from Adam Grant’s insights on…