RCxRules was thrilled to have recently attended America’s Physician Group’s (APG) annual conference in San Diego. The focus of this mid-April meeting was on: How to Succeed in Risk-Based Models.
APG is a professional association representing over 300 medical groups, independent practice associations, and integrated healthcare systems across the nation. Its members are pushing aggressively to move towards population-based payment models that make them accountable for both cost and quality. There were tremendous success stories from healthcare organizations “walking the talk” in lowering cost and improving quality.
The speakers focused on real-world strategies they have used to successfully reduce costs and improve quality for their patients. There was significant focus on effectively leveraging data to understand which treatments are the most beneficial and which offered little value. Additionally, there was a great deal of focus on the best ways to positively impact the social determinants of health for critical patients.
APG has spent a great deal of time over the last several years advocating for CMS to approve new payment models that continue to move the industry away from Fee-for-Service. CMS’s recent announcement on April 22nd of an ambitious, double-pronged strategy for new voluntary models to shift primary care from fee-for-service payments to a global fee model appears to be proof that their efforts are working.
Despite all the infighting that is occurring in Washington, the movement towards value-based reimbursement models continues to get broad support. As healthcare costs in this country continue to grow to unmanageable levels, the movement towards a more rationale payment model is inevitable. APG is an ideal place to learn from organizations that are embracing this shift.
