Value-based care could improve U.S. health care quality, but may not decrease administrative complexity, experts say

As the United States trails in rankings of health care systems of developed nations, value-based care could improve patient outcomes, but might not smooth out administrative efficiency.

This week, The Commonwealth Fund published its latest “Mirror, Mirror 2024: A Portrait of the Failing U.S. Health System.” The report shows the U.S. health care is falling behind – in some instances, way behind – nine other developed nations, according to 70 performance measures of access to care, care process, administrative efficiency, equity and health outcomes.

So, how does value-based care fit into the health care quality equation?

The American Journal of Managed Care® posed the question: “The report notes that the U.S. health care system ranks poorly in administrative efficiency compared to other countries. Can you discuss how the use of value-based payment models, rather than the fee-for-service approach, could help address some of these administrative burdens and complexities in the U.S. system?”

Here are expert opinions from Commonwealth Fund immediate past President David Blumenthal, MD, and Reginald D. Williams II, vice president for international health policy and practice innovations. This transcript was edited for length and clarity.

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