Whether or not broad-based healthcare reform is enacted in the near future, provider payment reform that encourages integration of healthcare delivery has bipartisan support but faces hurdles, said several speakers at a recent National Health Policy Conference co-sponsored by AcademyHealth and Health Affairs.
According to a report on the conference on the Health Affairs blog, pilots that promote models such as accountable-care organizations, episode-based payments and medical homes are necessary but difficult to move forward quickly. Current pilots and experiments with such models take a long time to show results, said panelist Mark McClellan, the former CMS administrator who now directs the Engelberg Center for Health Reform at the Brookings Institution.
Standardizing quality and cost measures and consistently collecting data would help shorten the cycle time for evaluating these programs, Mr. McClellan said, according to the report. Other speakers highlighted the need to consider provider reactions to different payment methods and to bring private insurers to the table to share their experiences in shifting fee-for-service to more integrated payment models.
Read the Health Affairs report on integrating payment systems.