Adviser Spring 2016 April 2016 | Page 8

Feature Get Your Seat at the Table Today! Can’t sleep? Rest assured, you have The time is now to execute on initiatives to optimize patient care and demonstrate positive outcomes A ccountable Care Organization (ACO) networks and bundled payment programs continue to gain momentum throughout New York and across the nation. As such, these influential networks (inclusive of physician groups, hospital systems, managed care, etc.) are becoming more influential and even more refined. Every Post-Acute Care (PAC) provider must be considering strategies to link elbows with referral sources, ACO/bundled payment networks, managed care networks and regional conveners. After all, the climate has changed quickly and dramatically; consider the startling statistics: • Currently, one in ten Medicare beneficiaries are attributed to an ACO • 50 percent of all payments this year will be via a value-based program • 90 percent of Fee-For-Service (FFS) Managed Care Alternative (MCA) dollars are linked to quality or value The impact of these health care reform mandates speak volumes! They suggest that this shift will continue to gain momentum. For example, several studies demonstrate the percentage of bundled payment patients discharged from the hospital setting directly to a skilled nursing facility has dropped as much as 30 – 50 percent for orthopedic and cardiac valve replacement surgeries. High Expectations! NS TIO A L Becoming part of a preferred network or bundled payment program is critical to PAC providers’ survival, but it comes with a price: high expectations! GU RE NG RISI TS COS RE T MEN RSE IMBU QUALITY LeadingAge New York Services developed Solutions to help you stay competitive even in this challenging environment. Our suite of comprehensive, integrated, competitively-priced solutions is just a phone call away. Whatever is keeping you awake at night, don’t count sheep, count on us. Contact Holly Smith at 518.867.8383 TODAY! 7 Adviser a publication of LeadingAge New York | Spring 2016 Healthcare organizations and networks are seeking only strategic partnerships that will help them to remain financially viable. As such, it is imperative for PAC operators to not only understand these expectations, but to also execute on processes, programs and plans in support of these important strategic changes as soon as possible. The following discussion encourages swift and smart execution on three critical drivers: quality patient care, monitored performance metrics and tactical operational changes. Patient Care is Paramount The Centers for Medicare and Medicatid Serices (CMS) focus on the “Triple Aim” initiative, dictates whether many PAC facilities will survive the healthcare reform transition. There is a universal sense of urgency related to adopting internal care designs to improve quality patient care and satisfaction, improve the health of populations, and to reduce the per capita cost of health care. The “Six Aims for Improvement” defines “ideal healthcare delivery” and PAC providers must be prepared to demonstrate their efforts to align with each of the six quality indicators, which state that care should always be: • Timely: Steps must be taken to avoid delays in care; arrange for consistent weekend/holiday coverage. • Efficient: What processes are in place to optimize use of supplies, equipment? • Equitable: Delivery of high quality PAC services should be available to all. • Safe: Patients must not be harmed by the system; particularly at vulnerable transitions of care. • Effective: Evidence-based care (as with pathways/protocols) must be put into place. • Patient-Centered: Patients must have an active role in care decisions, and specific needs (social or cultural) be determined/communicated at each PAC transition. Moreover, “in-network” providers are expected to embrace INTERACT, or a similar program to track, manage and report out on a comprehensive admission, discharge planning and communication processes related to care transitions. Often times, although a PAC operator understands the value of INTERACT, implementati ۈ\