With
the transition to “value-based care” well underway and healthcare’s shift from
volume-based to value-based payment (VBP), significant barriers still remain
for many providers while others have become more comfortable with VBP
participation.
A
recent study, by the American Academy of Family Physicians and Humana measured
providers perceptions and attitudes towards value-based payment models to
determine if there were any changes in comparison to the 2015 study. (1)
Key
findings from the study include:
- There
was an increase in providers that indicated they were either “extremely
familiar” or “somewhat familiar” with the concept of value-based payment
models.
- Fewer
said they were “not at all familiar” in 2017 (7%) than in 2015 (12%).
- More
than twice as many indicated payments based on quality measures were
distributed to physicians, in comparison to 2015.
- Over
half of the physicians surveyed reported to be updating or adding health IT
infrastructure in preparation to participate in VBP.
- More
family physicians have hired care coordinators and behavioural health support.
- Only
14 percent reported they were taking no actions to prepare for VBP, compared to
26% in 2015.
- The
barrier “lack of resources to report, validate, and use of data” decreased in
2017 compared to 2015 (81% vs. 74%).
However,
the news is not all positive, and there is still a lot of work to be done.
There remain many barriers toward the implementation of VBP, by providers.
Below are just a few of their concerns:
- In
2017, only 8% of family physicians agreed with the statement that “quality
expectations are easy to meet in value-based payment models,” compared to 13%
in 2015.
- “Staff
lack of time” remains a significant barrier to participating in VBP by 90% of
physicians surveyed.
- 62%
reported "lack of evidence that using performance measures results in
better patient care" as a barrier to adoption.
- Lack
of standardization of performance measures/metrics remains a top concern.
- Lack
of transparency between payers and providers also remains a barrier to
implementation.
- Only
a little more than half of the physicians surveyed said their practice
participates in value-based care models.
Although
the study conducted by the American Academy of Family Physicians and Humana offers
encouraging signs that physicians are becoming more comfortable with VBP, it
also made clear that there are many more challenges ahead.
References:
https://mms.businesswire.com/media/20171129005677/en/626867/1/Data_Brief2017_Value_Base_FINAL4.pdf?download=1