CardioSource WorldNews | Page 50

BUSINESS CONSULT “If you’re treating the Medicare population and you’re in one of the prospective MSAs that CMS identified, your hospital could be chosen.” managed and minimized. Improving communication between the ER and the surgeons, physicia ns, and clinical team members who are going to be taking care of these patients is essential — again, care coordination. Organizations also need to gather and review data – internal data, system data, national benchmark data. Quantifying volume or the number of cases, which physicians are participating in the patient’s care, and what are the biggest drivers of cost in an episode. Organizations can use data to identify and eliminate variation wherever it’s clinically unwarranted, or conduct an initial evaluation to identify avoidable readmissions. Who stands to benefit from these new bundles, and from bundles more generally? Despite the seemingly chaotic reimbursement environment, bundled payments are a safe bet. Bundles truly represent one of the few reimbursement approaches today through which all stakeholders can benefit. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to standardize patient care, improve outcomes, and enhance the quality of care delivered to Medicare beneficiaries, as well as all patients. Certainly, patients benefit by having access to standardized, evidence-based care. If hospitals are willing to do the hard work associated with bundles, they stand to benefit financially by lowering their costs. The physicians or surgeons involved in the patient’s care can also see financial benefits from the gain-sharing waivers that are put in place as part of these programs. And of course, Medicare has already experienced significant savings as a result of the bundled programs that are in place today. What other insights can you share with cardiologists? If you’re treating the Medicare population and you’re in one of the prospective MSAs that CMS identified, your hospital could be chosen. You absolutely need to be paying attention to this development and, at the very least, take a look at your historical costs. Don’t wait to see if your hospital is named – assume it will be. Organizations that want to succeed will be engaged in the process and proactively manage the potential for risk. ■ The ACC is reviewing the proposal and will submit comments later this month. Read more in the news story on ACC.org, or scan the code. For questions or want more information on bundled payments, contact Dr. Baggot at [email protected] or Tori at [email protected]. ACC’s Clinical App Collection Use these apps “on the go” to improve clinical knowledge and optimize patient care. To find the app you need, search by name in your app store, or visit ACC.org/Apps. ©2016 American College of Cardiology B15299 48 CardioSource WorldNews CardioSmart Explorer Statin Intolerance TAVR In-hospital Mortality Risk FOCUS Imaging AnticoagEvaluator ACC Guidelines ASCVD Risk Estimator Month 2016