One of the “best hopes” that came out of the Affordable Care Act was a provision to
enhance the role of primary care providers in decreasing the overall cost of
healthcare. The logic simply is that as
individuals need more access to healthcare early on, before the issues become a
problem, they would be able to receive that care in one of the more less
expensive ways – a visit with their primary care physician. Other first world
countries follow a similar approach, even taking it one step further by making
it necessary to visit your primary care physician before being allowed to see a
specialist.
Just today Reuters
has reported that “this program has experienced significant success with
reducing cost while increasing the quality of care by keeping patients out of
hospitals. ” According to CareFirst, its medical home program, in its fourth
year, also delivered high-quality care, measured by yardsticks such as whether
doctors gave recommended cancer screenings and immunizations. The organization
said it saved $130 million or 3.5 percent compared to projected spending under
standard fee-for-service.
The savings reached a level "I wouldn't have thought
possible," said CareFirst President Chet Burrell. The non-profit covers
3.4 million people in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia.”
This program has had other significant contributions towards
modern healthcare management. Primary care physicians who have historically not
made nearly as much money as other physicians, especially specialist, are now
seeing upwards of $148 dollars for participating in the program as opposed to
the $100 dollars they might have traditionally received.
This program is largely reliant on medial data, which
compares specialists rates, and alerts patients and physicians when it’s time
for a check ups, medications, etc.
Unfortunately not all organizations who have participated in
this program have shown success. Certainly as these organizations continue to
work out the ‘kinks’ there will be more success stories.
Share your Thoughts:
Have these changes on healthcare management and the way healthcare is being distributed impacted you personally? What can we as consumers do to establish a more viable healthcare system? What can healthcare management do to increase the quality of care and decrease cost of care for patients?
Sources:
http://www.adp.com/~/media/RI/images/ACA-Compliance-Hero-1.ashx?h=557&w=1030
Thank you to Baylor University MBA in Healthcare for keeping their students engaged and aware of the changes in healthcare management and how we can impact patients and healthcare for the better.
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