New Medicare payment models that focus on physicians delivering value versus volume were the subject of a recent speech by the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary. The Secretary noted the critical role that healthcare IT will play in achieving key objectives such as quality outcomes and controlling healthcare costs. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) summarized the primary message of the HHS announcement:
Speaking to key healthcare industry stakeholders on Tuesday, Jan. 26, HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced an ambitious plan to shift Medicare away from the fee-for-service payment model toward payment based on quality, value and cost-containment. New payment models created by the Affordable Care Act that link healthcare provider payments to the quality and cost of care, including Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), primary care medical homes and bundled payment models, will serve as a catalyst for this transformation.
