Value-Based Care Payments Focuses More Attention On Population Health Management
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
New suite of products helps healthcare providers address crucial population health issues.
As the CMS continues to push to transition to value-based care models for hospitals and healthcare providers under Medicare as part of its efforts to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system, the shift is bringing population health management initiatives more closely into focus.
The initiative is designed to lower healthcare costs without sacrificing quality of care and patient outcomes. And while the process has not been entirely smooth, there have been a number of transition success stories. One such example is Western Maryland Health System, which successfully completed the shift from a fee-for-service to a value-based care model as Health IT Outcomes reported.
The emphasis on value-based care models has also highlighted the significant role population health management programs can play in improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.
Now, national healthcare consulting firm PYA (Pershing Yoakley & Associates) has launched Population Health Ascend, a suite of products designed to help healthcare providers meet the challenges of population health management and transition to value-based care. The platform helps users define a unique path forward for navigating the transition.
“Healthcare providers want to know what they should be doing now to position their organizations for value-based care,” explained PYA Principal Martie Ross. “The Population Health Ascend suite of products offers specific tactics, each one building critical competencies for population health management.”
With its three service groups, the platform encompasses the transition from fee-for-service to value-based care. They include: preparation for the challenge; acclimating to the new value-based care landscape; and transition to more complex population management capabilities.
With the CMS value-based care deadline for 2018 fast approaching, healthcare providers need to be primed and ready to accept the challenge. As Health IT Outcomes explained, “The time is now for healthcare organizations to make strides toward the future model with the help of quality-driven clinicians supported by accessible, easy-to-use analytics.” Population Health Management platforms are just one part of the equation.