The new Medicare Advantage value-based insurance design (VBID) demonstration, which is supported by both the Obama administration and the Republican House of Representatives, has sparked interest from additional states that want to be involved in this access-increasing program, said A. Mark Fendrick, MD, director of the Center for Value-Based Insurance Design at the University of Michigan.
The new Medicare Advantage value-based insurance design (VBID) demonstration, which is supported by both the Obama administration and the Republican House of Representatives, has sparked interest from additional states that want to be involved in this access-increasing program, said A. Mark Fendrick, MD, director of the Center for Value-Based Insurance Design at the University of Michigan.
Transcript (slightly modified)
As the launch of the Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design Model approaches, what do you expect to see in the first year of the initiative?
So the Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) demonstration launches in January 1 of 2017. Health plans in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Indiana for the first time have the option to lower cost sharing for specific services, for specific providers, for specific populations in specified chronic conditions. So we’re very excited for the first time to have diabetic patients to have enhanced access to things like eye exams, or patients with major depression disorder to have enhanced access to behavioral therapy. And for patients with post-stroke and heart disease to have access to those specialists and those drugs that will be able to manage their conditions.
We are also extraordinarily pleased to see that CMMI [Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation], based on the response to the first application process for the demo, expanded the demonstration to 3 additional states, Mississippi, Michigan, and Texas; and also added 2 new conditions, rheumatoid arthritis and dementia, to those conditions that were already included the first time around. So we’ve also heard from additional states not included in the demonstration that they want to be involved, and we hope to see an additional round of applications for new states.
In addition to the support of value-based insurance design from the Obama administration, VBID is one of those very, very, very rare healthcare reform ideas with bipartisan political support. One great example of the bipartisan support is the inclusion of value-based insurance design in the Medicare program, in the Better Way Forward, which is the Republican House healthcare reform document which has been led by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. It’s extraordinarily unusual, as you know, in these contentious times in healthcare policy to see an idea with support both from a Democratic executive administration as well as the House of Representatives majority party, that being the Republicans.
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
Dr Michael Farwell on FDG PET/CT Imaging to Predict Immunotherapy Response in Advanced Melanoma
April 15th 2024Michael Farwell, MD, associate professor of radiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, provides insights into a study on the benefits of using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT imaging to detect metabolic tumor changes in skin cancer.
Read More
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
Increasing Lp(a) Awareness for Better Cardiovascular Health: Dr Mary McGowan
March 24th 2024For Lp(a) Awareness Day, Mary McGowan, MD, FNLA, chief medical officer of the Family Heart Foundation, highlights how most people with elevated Lp(a) are completely unaware that they have this increased risk and calls for increased testing.
Read More
Dr Al Benson on Reimbursement for Supportive Care When Treating Patients With Cancer
March 22nd 2024Al Benson, MD, FACP, FACCC, FASCO, medical oncologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and associate director of the Robert E. Tillery Comprehensive Cancer Center, discussed findings from a national survey assessing barriers to comprehensive cancer care delivery.
Read More