“1. Define the problems physicians are trying to solve. While payers are taking nuanced approaches at risk metrics/services around conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and COPD, ultimately the point of changing the financial arrangements is to improve care for these patients so they have higher quality lives and lower costs. Payers have demonstrated an aversion to linking measures with other payers to protect their proprietary pricing strategies. However, broad agreement should be reached to alleviate some of the variation forced on providers that can contribute to burnout. ”

“2. Recognize there is a learning curve to value-based reimbursement. Avalere’s analysis suggested there is some learning curve to reaching successful risk bearing arrangements.  Both payers and physicians need to recognize that changing the incentives in healthcare and care delivery requirements requires a reorientation that needs some two-way education. This is particularly true if the goal of both sides is both short-term and long-term success.  Empowering all parties with the relevant data to identify, assess, and address current issues is critical and even more imperative if both parties can’t be patient.”

“3. Acknowledge the physician’s time is in some ways fixed and something must give.  A critical source of provider burnout are family responsibilities and time pressure.  Adding anything new to physicians should require a trade-off. Take something off physicians’ plates, or burnout is only going to increase. Identifying resources or areas that require less attention is a critical and honest way for both payers and clinicians to come to terms about what sacrifices they are willing to make for value-based payment models to be successful and improve patient health.”

To read Mr. Friedman’s entire article, please hit this link.