(This article originally appeared in the ):
The听emerging听age of healthcare is a shift to payment reimbursements based on better value at an affordable cost, accountability听for听improved patient outcomes, and patient-focused care instead of the volume of services provided.
As part of the听Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010,听the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)听is rolling out听new听Medicare听payment models based on the听value听patients receive from听provider听services. The听new听models pay for performance听through financial听incentives听tied to听quality measures and听cost reduction.
While these programs have been rolling out over the last several years, HHS is stepping up the implementation. Last week, HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell announced measurable goals and a timeline to transition Medicare, and the overall healthcare system, to paying providers based on performance.
The new goal is听30 percent of听鈥榯raditional, or fee-for-service, Medicare payments to quality or value through alternative payment models, such as Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) or bundled听payment arrangements by the end听of 2016, and tying 50 percent of payments to these models by the end of 2018.鈥櫶鼿HS听also听has a goal of听tying 85 percent of all traditional Medicare payments to quality or value by 2016;听and听in听2018, that听number jumps to听90 percent.
Technology听will play a critical role in the success of these models.听The importance of healthcare providers听using technology鈥攊ncluding mobile applications鈥攚ill听be necessary as the听need听for听interoperable electronic health records鈥攖o share information among healthcare professionals鈥攇rows. The telemedicine听industry has already set the stage听for more accessible care. Remote patient monitoring听offers听continuous assessment听from a听convenient听location.
The technology push was evident last month听at听the Alliance for Home Health Quality and Innovation (AHHQI)听symposium听held in Washington, D.C.听as part of its Future of Home Health program.听Experts discussed听how technology will help the industry achieve seamless communication among federal, state, local agencies, and clinicians. The technology link was identified as听the conduit for better care models,听as well as听cost-savings and helping streamline听the听process听of听patient claims, to name a few.
Esteemed speakers and panel members at the symposium, including Dr. Steven Landers, Chairman of the Alliance for Home Health Quality and Innovation (AHHQI) and President & CEO of VNA Health Group;听Brian Griffin, President and CEO of Empire BlueCross BlueShield;听Tracy Lustig, Senior Program Officer with the Institute of Medicine;听Bruce Leff, Professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Sam Smith, Vice President of Business Development at 小猪视频. They each discussed the Triple Aim of healthcare, the impediments to healthcare IT adoption for home care adoption and the challenges of the home healthcare industry and its future.
Nearly everyone agreed that the solutions to areas in home health that need support lie in technology. While technology is playing a critical role in the home health field, the Medicare home health benefit does not currently support these innovative approaches to care.
Some states, however, are starting to reimburse for telemedicine听under Medicaid; but this is merely scratching the surface. The benefits of tech in home healthcare extend deep into the industry. Creating standardization in quality measures across the board,听as well as听advancing interoperability of electronic medical records and electronic health records,听will likely happen soon, but听that is only the beginning of听what technology can do.
The AHHQI is leading听change听by organizing a research-based strategic planning project for the future of home healthcare in America. In the future, these types of efforts are imperative to aligning home healthcare鈥檚 growth with the changes occurring in the U.S. healthcare system.
The home healthcare sector continues to see substantial growth due to the need for lower-cost alternatives to hospitals and nursing homes for the care of the aging baby-boomer population. In many ways, the benefits of the home care model compliment the current reforms听being undertaken in the healthcare system and should lay the groundwork for improving the U.S. healthcare system for years to come.
At each step along the way, the home health听model听helps solve听challenges听such as moving from disease states to functionality and听from听frailty to听mobility. With newer payment models, home health will play a key role in helping听determine the level of care needed and who is at greatest risk for hospital听re-admittance, ultimately reducing hospital readmissions.
But that is only the start.听Mobile technology, for example,听will pave the way for increased communication and听collaboration within听teams comprised of social workers, physicians, nurses, therapists and family/caregivers听to听plan care with the patient鈥檚 goals in mind.听Emerging technology听and new payment models听are the听cornerstones听of an elevated national healthcare system.