Question

What recent evidence about bundled payment programs can you find? Are they growing? Are they saving money? Do enrollees seem to like the care they get? Is the quality of care good?

Answer 1

Ans.

Bundled Payment is a single payment to providers or health care facilities for all services to provide given treatment. It is an approach to improve coordination and efficiency. It decreases health care spending. In cardiovascular care implementation of bundle payment is there. It includes multiple providers such as radiology, surgery, cardiology etc. Cardiovascular patients receive multiple health care settings like primary care, nursing facility etc. Given all this bundle payment can improve coordination and generate savings for care.

In 2006 the Geisinger Health Plan, large non profit integrated delivery system in Pennsylvania implemented ProvenCare. The ProvenCare included bundled payment that included all hospital and physician fees, post acute care including cardiac rehabilitation, and readmission within 90 days of surgery as well as care for post operative complications. It was implemented in conjunction with evidence based, pay for performance program, which included introduction of 40 best practice components adopted from 20 clinical practice guidelines. It lead to success of bundled payment.

In 2009 Medicare Acute Care initiated bundled payment for orthopaedic joints replacement and cardiovascular procedure. It provided lump sum payment for hospital and physician services. It was also beneficial.

According to 2016 study by McKesson and ORC international predict bunflb payment will grow 6% over next five years. It will be fastest growing of all health plan payment models. The quality of care taken is good. It has helped in curbing health care costs without decreasing health care quality with more improvement. So it is helpful in saving money . Evidence shows that people like the care taken under this program because of the quality and efficiency. As well as reduce financial responsibility from payers to providers. With these payments fewer wasteful and unnecessary services will be provided ,reducing overall hospital spending.