Main Library
The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed weaknesses in health care systems around the world, and the U.S. is no exception. Observers cite a wide range of issues — from underfunded public health departments to inequitable access to care, to high levels of underlying chronic conditions that worsen outcomes — that need to be addressed to create a more sustainable post-pandemic health care system.
One potential change that is attracting increased attention is the transition from a traditional fee-for-service system to value-based care, a delivery model in which providers are compensated based on patient health outcomes rather than being incentivized to perform costly procedures and tests.
Of course, value-based care is not a new concept, and while many organizations have previously expressed interest or taken initial steps in this direction, the model has been slow to gain traction in the U.S. Why does the pandemic add to the urgency?