Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) have been a hot topic in the industry since the first ACO appeared on the scene in 2010, expanding from their roots in Medicare to the commercial space, and now frequently serving as a vehicle to align employers, health plans, and providers. According to an Oliver Wyman survey, ACOs in 2015…
Keeping patients calm and comfortable during treatment of a serious illness—that’s the goal of palliative care. “Often patients are fearful when they hear the term palliative care because it’s often associated with hospice. We are trying to dispel some of that fear because quality at any stage of an illness is important,” said Dr. Jonathan…
The shift toward value-based payment in healthcare that countless advocates say will cut costs and improve the quality of care isn’t without its downsides. This week’s earnings show the evolution is weighing on some providers’ bottom lines. As more of Universal Health Services’ behavioral health patients move from fee-for-service Medicaid to Medicaid managed-care programs, the…
The transition to value-based care has expanded the definition of patient wellness to include both physical and social health. As patient care stretches into the community, the healthcare workforce begins to center on the community health worker. Community health workers “are frontline public health workers who have a close understanding of the community they serve,”…
Dive Brief: The growth of accountable care organizations is cutting physician work hours as well as the likelihood of doctors being self-employed, according to a new JAMA report. The study of nearly 50,000 doctors found a 10% increase in ACO enrollment in a hospital referral region is connected with 0.82 fewer work hours per week…
Value-based care (VBC) has become a key component in our efforts to improve healthcare and reduce costs. Yet, various stakeholders regard VBC differently: If I asked 10 people to define VBC for me, I’m sure I’d get 10 different responses. The absence of agreed-upon VBC goals by all contributes to the “what’s in it for…
Physicians on the front lines of health care today are sometimes described as going to battle. It’s an apt metaphor. Physicians, like combat soldiers, often face a profound and unrecognized threat to their well-being: moral injury. Moral injury is frequently mischaracterized. In combat veterans it is diagnosed as post-traumatic stress; among physicians it’s portrayed as…
Medicare Advantage is a growing market and an attractive opportunity for payers to offer quality plans to older beneficiaries. Competition is increasing in the MA environment, and beneficiaries have more options than ever to meet their coverage needs. With more choice comes higher rates of disenrollment as members select the most valuable plans for their…
Orlando-based Florida Hospital President and CEO Daryl Tol said during a recent talk that the hospital has created a secret team called Project Fulcrum to “kill the old healthcare model,” according to the Orlando Sentinel. Here are three things to know: 1. Mr. Tol, who also serves as president and CEO of the central Florida…
A commercial shared savings program equipped with the right leadership, clinical insights, and comprehensive care strategies can help payers save significantly on healthcare costs and produce exceptional beneficiary outcomes. In order to achieve these results, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) has developed a shared savings program with ACO Partner, a Change Healthcare company….