Description: Can Direct-to-Provider Contracting Achieve Value-Based Care for Employer-Sponsored Plans? Direct-to-provider contracting is a strategy in which a self-insured entity negotiates a contract directly with a provider of healthcare services rather than through a third-party administrator (TPA), often with the goal of driving value-based care. This article discusses the considerations for employers and providers with direct-to-provider contracting.

Description: This is a case study session where the speakers will describe a project where a major health system converted its provider distinct reimbursement (i.e., separate physician IPA and hospital capitation) to an integrated reimbursement involving global capitation. The session will discuss the strategic issues considered by the parties and how they evaluated them in their decision process. This session will provide attendees an example of how to approach this type of decision.

Description: In the current value-based care marketplace, there are various reimbursement models that tie payments for care delivery to the quality of the care provided. The purpose is clear – change reimbursement to focus on value by rewarding better outcomes and lower spending. However, implementation it is complex, and many challenges emerge during this transition for both providers and payers.Providers often lack sophisticated actuarial capabilities or clear understanding of the connection between finance and clinical operations. For these reasons, they enter risk arrangements without knowing how to strategically manage and mitigate risks and fully transfer the reimbursement changes into clinical decisions. For payers, a truly viable value-based payment model that rewards the most valuable providers needs a multidisciplinary approach and a solid financial model. Such a model also requires transparency and a clear transitional road map for providers to encourage participation and collaboration. In this session, we will discuss lessons learned through case studies of working with both providers and payers on value-based care issues. We will illustrate the current state of the complex financial structures by presenting examples of value-based financial models, feasibility analyses, and strategies to design a payment model beneficial to both providers and payers. We will also explore the clinical collaboration necessary to make it all work, as well as present some best practice strategies to facilitate strong payer-provider collaboration.

Description: Discussion and Opinion on how randomness affects measurement of provider contracting risk-sharing agreements

Description: What is the difference between a Single-Payer and Universal Health Care System, and how could the U.S. implement a system that would reduce the growth of medical costs while increasing quality.