More insurers are moving towards alternative payment and delivery models, but the transition needs to happen a lot quicker, explained Michael E. Chernew, PhD, during a panel discussion at the ACO & Emerging Healthcare Delivery Coalition Spring Live Meeting.
The ACO & Emerging Healthcare Delivery Coalition will meet again October 20-21, 2016, for the 6th live meeting. At the event, held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, attendees will hear presentations from industry leaders, participate in workshops, and listen to a panel discussion—like the one presented here—that takes a broader view on the changes in healthcare in the United States. Here is a segment from the panel discussion that was presented at the spring live meeting. Register now for the fall live meeting. Or become a member of the Coalition.
More insurers are moving towards alternative payment and delivery models, but the transition needs to happen a lot quicker, explained Michael E. Chernew, PhD, the Leonard D. Schaeffer Professor of Health Care Policy and the director of the Healthcare Markets and Regulation Lab in the Department of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School, in a panel discussion.
The discussion took place during a session at the ACO & Emerging Healthcare Delivery Coalition Spring Live Meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona, April 28-29. He was joined by panelists Patricia Salber, MD, MBA, executive officer of The Doctor Weighs In, and Bruce Sherman, MD, FCCP, FACOEM, medical director of Employers Health Coalition. The discussion was moderated by Clifford Goodman, PhD, senior vice president of The Lewin Group.
Chernew explained that alternative payment models and consolidation are the future of the healthcare system. Though plans are already moving towards payment reform through various mandates, Chernew stated that the transition needs to happen at a quicker rate because working halfway between fee-for-service and the new models is difficult to manage.
From an employer perspective, Sherman added that many organizations have shown great interest in alternative payment and delivery models by contracting with accountable care organizations (ACOs) or centers for excellence to achieve care models unlike the ones previously demonstrated in fee-for-service models.
“I think we’ve got an interesting dynamic among employers,” Sherman said. “Some are falling into the ACO camp. Others are saying, well, I’ll use my health plan and we’ll figure out what those high performance networks look like…”
On the other hand, Salber believes the transition to a completely value-based system is going to take a lot longer than expected, as ACOs are still in its early stages of figuring out what methods are going to be most successful.
“I think the ACOs are still trying to figure out how to actually be successful and make money,” she said.
Salber added that the rising cost of pharmaceuticals is another piece of the emerging care model puzzle that has yet to be figured out.
An Overview of Health Care and Pharmaceutical Trends, 2023-2024
April 19th 2024Douglas M. Long, BA, MBA, was featured as the keynote speaker on the closing day of The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy 2024 annual meeting, with a session dedicated to surveying the health care and pharmaceutical trends of the last year.
Read More
Overcoming Employment Barriers for Lasting Social Impact: Freedom House 2.0 and Pathways to Work
April 16th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our second episode, in which we learn all about Freedom House 2.0 and the Pathways to Work program.
Listen
Making Giant Strides in Maternity Health Through Baby Steps
April 9th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are kicking off a special month-long podcast series with our strategic alliance partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our first episode, which is all about the Baby Steps Maternity Program and its mission to support women throughout every step of their pregnancy journey.
Listen
Commonwealth Fund Report Details Pervasive Racial and Ethnic Disparities in US Health Care, Outcomes
April 18th 2024Using 25 health system performance indicators, the Commonwealth Fund 2024 State Health Disparities Report evaluated racial and ethnic disparities in health care and health outcomes both within and across US states and highlighted the urgent need for equitable health care policies and practices in the US.
Read More
Beyond Insulin: The Impact of Next-Generation Diabetes Technology
April 17th 2024Experts explain how new diabetes technologies like continuous glucose monitors are transforming care beyond intensive insulin therapy, offering personalized insights and improving outcomes for patients of all treatment levels.
Read More