Leveraging Health
A group of interested parties from industry, pharma, and the press gathered at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, to introduce the launch of a new book, Leveraging Health. This is the first book from the Center of Health Value Innovation (www.vbhealth.org), authored by three recognized experts in value-based design - Cyndy Nayer, MA (President and CEO of the Center and Editorial Board member for The American Journal of Pharmacy Benefits), Jack Mahoney, MD (Chief Medical Officer for the Center), and Jan E. Berger, MD, MJ (Editor-in-Chief of The American Journal of Pharmacy Benefits and Strategic Advisor for the Center).
As the titles suggests, Leveraging Health uses real-world case studies from public and private organizations to illustrate 15 "levers" - or tipping points - where value-based designs can make the most impact. This book is written for employers, benefits consultants, health plans, physicians, and hospital systems - anyone who makes decisions on how to influence behaviors for better health outcomes.
"The conversation about healthcare reform has become a financial conversation," says Berger. "What this book does is to translate that financial conversation to a more operational and strategic role of personalizing health, aligning incentives, and breaking down the barriers to quality, cost-effective care."
The new book is a good start in that direction, but there's still a lot of work that needs to be done to change the current mindset. "When people say 'I can't get a return on my investment,' that's a financial answer and health is not a finance, said Nayer. It has financial implications, but it is about people. So, about 9 months ago, we took ROI off the table and put in the word "dividends" [because] everybody understands that 'dividends' get reinvested."
The good news is that the conversation and the culture seem to be slowly evolving. Nayer feels that the sentiment towards prevention and wellness will ultimately follow the path of the "green" movement. She says, "People understand now about investing in the environment. They get it. They're not complaining 'if I plant this tree today, I won't live long enough to see the results.'" Perhaps this new book can help us start 'planting' some healthier people.
Click here to order your copy of Leveraging Health from Amazon. For more information about the book or the Center for Health Value Innovation, visit their Web site at www.vbhealth.org.
As the titles suggests, Leveraging Health uses real-world case studies from public and private organizations to illustrate 15 "levers" - or tipping points - where value-based designs can make the most impact. This book is written for employers, benefits consultants, health plans, physicians, and hospital systems - anyone who makes decisions on how to influence behaviors for better health outcomes.
"The conversation about healthcare reform has become a financial conversation," says Berger. "What this book does is to translate that financial conversation to a more operational and strategic role of personalizing health, aligning incentives, and breaking down the barriers to quality, cost-effective care."
The new book is a good start in that direction, but there's still a lot of work that needs to be done to change the current mindset. "When people say 'I can't get a return on my investment,' that's a financial answer and health is not a finance, said Nayer. It has financial implications, but it is about people. So, about 9 months ago, we took ROI off the table and put in the word "dividends" [because] everybody understands that 'dividends' get reinvested."
The good news is that the conversation and the culture seem to be slowly evolving. Nayer feels that the sentiment towards prevention and wellness will ultimately follow the path of the "green" movement. She says, "People understand now about investing in the environment. They get it. They're not complaining 'if I plant this tree today, I won't live long enough to see the results.'" Perhaps this new book can help us start 'planting' some healthier people.
Click here to order your copy of Leveraging Health from Amazon. For more information about the book or the Center for Health Value Innovation, visit their Web site at www.vbhealth.org.
Advertisement
